NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight, officials announced Tuesday. The incident marks the first time a drone has been destroyed within the country’s airspace, according to the Lithuanian military [cite source]. The interception occurred near the village of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys district, approximately 60 miles west of the capital Vilnius and close to the Kaunas Reservoir, the National Crisis Management Center reported. Authorities stated that the drone likely crossed the border from Belarus and remained in Lithuanian airspace for about 30 minutes before being downed [cite source]. Antanas Matutis, commander of the Lithuanian air force, indicated that wreckage was recovered and the device likely carried explosives [cite source]. Officials emphasized that further investigations are required to definitively determine the drone’s origin and exact purpose [cite source]. The incursion occurred shortly after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that military strikes near alliance territory demonstrate heightened recklessness and would prompt the organization to strengthen defenses along its eastern border [cite source]. Meanwhile, regional tensions persisted as Russian drone strikes continued across Ukraine, wounding several people in Kyiv and prompting widespread defensive interceptions by Russian forces [cite source].
Source: npr.org
