NATO Fighter Jet Shoots Down Drone Over Lithuania After Belarusian Airspace Violation
A NATO aircraft intercepted and destroyed a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, prompting officials to affirm the alliance's readiness on its eastern flank.
Lithuania's foreign minister said NATO remains vigilant, committed and ready after an allied fighter jet shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on Tuesday. The drone crossed the border, flew over the Lentvaris and Trakai areas and fell near the village of Pratkūnai in Kaunas county, marking the first time a drone has been downed on Lithuanian territory.
"A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets," President Gitanas Nauseda posted on X, adding that such readiness is vital amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Lithuanian National Crisis Management Centre confirmed the flight path and the interception, while Moscow has not commented. Hours later, Poland announced its own aviation operations to counter Russian jet-powered drones striking near its border with Ukraine, describing the measures as preventive. NATO's air-policing mission has previously intercepted drones over the Baltic states and Estonia, though such actions remain relatively rare. The incident occurs as diplomatic talks continue over de-escalation steps between Kyiv and Moscow, while fighting persists on both sides of the conflict.