NATO Fighter Jets Intercept Drone Over Lithuanian Airspace
NATO aircraft shot down an unidentified drone that entered Lithuanian airspace near Pratkūnai, marking the alliance's first such interception in the country.
NATO fighter jets downed an unidentified drone that entered Lithuanian airspace near the village of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys district, about 100 km west of Vilnius, officials said on Tuesday. The incident, the first time a drone has been shot down in Lithuania, was confirmed by the National Crisis Management Center, which noted the aircraft remained in the country's airspace for roughly 30 minutes before being intercepted.
Lithuanian air force commander Antanas Matutis said wreckage had been recovered and that the drone "likely" carried explosives. Crisis centre head Vilmantas Vitkauskas told state broadcaster LRT the drone most probably entered from Belarus and flew near populated areas before being engaged.
The interception follows remarks by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels, where he warned that strikes close to NATO territory could prompt the alliance to increase its support for Ukraine and strengthen defenses along its eastern border.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was prepared to support de-escalation if Russia showed a genuine willingness to end hostilities, while Russian officials reported shooting down 222 Ukrainian drones overnight.