NATO jets shoot down drone after it entered Lithuania’s airspace from neighbouring Belarus, with the unmanned aircraft destroyed near Pratkunai village in central-southern Lithuania, close to the city of Kaunas.
The incident occurred as NATO members on the alliance’s eastern flank remained on heightened alert over Russian drone activity linked to the war in Ukraine.
Lithuanian emergency authorities confirmed early Tuesday that the drone had been intercepted near Pratkunai. Information reported by Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT indicated that the aircraft entered from Belarus and was travelling west.
NATO Jets Intercept Drone Over Lithuania
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda confirmed the interception in a statement posted in the early hours of Tuesday.
“A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by Nato fighter jets,” Nauseda said.
He added: “With Russia intensifying its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for our region.”
The incident highlights growing concerns among Baltic countries over the possibility that drones connected to the Ukraine conflict could enter the airspace of NATO members bordering Russia and Belarus.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have repeatedly reported drone incursions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
For Lithuania, the latest incident comes amid increased scrutiny of airspace security across the Baltic region, where NATO has maintained air-policing operations to protect member states.
Lithuania Thanks NATO Allies
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys thanked the country’s allies for responding to the airspace violation.
“Whose presence helps protect our skies and strengthens our security,” Budrys said.
He described the interception as an example of NATO cooperation and stressed the importance of the alliance’s readiness.
“This is best example of allied unity and resolve in action – sending a clear message that Nato stands vigilant, committed, and ready,” he said.
The response demonstrates the importance of NATO’s air-policing arrangements in countries along the alliance’s eastern border, particularly as military activity connected to the Ukraine war continues.
Russian Drone Activity Raises Regional Concerns
The Lithuania airspace violation occurred less than a day after Poland recovered what officials described as a suspected Russian military drone from the Baltic Sea.
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the military had located and recovered the drone near the beach at Rusinowo, close to Jaroslawiec.
“The military has located and recovered a drone from the Baltic Sea near the beach in Rusinowo, close to Jaroslawiec,” he said.
“Preliminary inspection indicates that it is a Russian military drone.”
A Polish armed forces spokesperson said the aircraft appeared to be a Gerbera, a relatively inexpensive long-range drone constructed from materials including plywood and foam.
Such drones are frequently used as decoys, although some versions can also carry explosives.
The aircraft was recovered by a hydrographic vessel after being found off the Polish coast.
Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets
Poland also activated its air force as a precautionary measure while Russian drones were attacking targets in Ukraine.
The move reflects the heightened state of alert among NATO countries bordering Ukraine and Russia, particularly after repeated incidents involving drones entering or approaching allied territory.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly warned that NATO countries should expect an increase in provocations from Moscow.
The latest incidents in Lithuania and Poland have therefore intensified attention on the security of NATO’s eastern flank.
Previous NATO Drone Interception in Estonia
The Lithuania incident follows another significant drone interception in the Baltic region.
In May, a NATO fighter shot down a Ukrainian drone over Estonia. It was the first interception of a foreign drone in the airspace of a Baltic NATO member by NATO air-policing forces since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The three Baltic states — Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — are all members of NATO and share borders with Russia or Belarus.
Their geographical position has made them particularly sensitive to developments arising from the war in Ukraine.
The latest NATO response in Lithuania therefore carries significance beyond the individual drone incident, demonstrating that the alliance is prepared to respond when unidentified or foreign aircraft enter the airspace of its members.
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Russian Drone Hits Passenger Train in Ukraine
The latest regional tensions also follow a Russian drone attack on a passenger train near Ukraine’s border with Poland on Sunday.
The train was reportedly used shortly before the attack by former British prime minister Boris Johnson and other foreign diplomats.
The incident added to concerns about the expanding risks posed by Russian attacks and drone operations near NATO territory.
For now, the Lithuanian authorities have not publicly established that the drone destroyed near Pratkunai was Russian-made. However, officials said it entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and was travelling west.
The incident is likely to keep airspace security high on the agenda for Lithuania and its NATO allies as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.
With drones increasingly being used in the conflict, NATO members along the alliance’s eastern frontier face the continuing challenge of distinguishing deliberate attacks from accidental incursions while maintaining a rapid response capability.
The destruction of the drone over Lithuania underscores the alliance’s determination to protect its airspace and respond quickly to potential threats.
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