Drone shot down by Nato over Lithuania

In Lithuania, NATO fighter jets engaged and destroyed a drone that had entered the country's airspace. President Gitanas Nauseda announced the incident on X, explaining that such vigilance is crucial for the region due to Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine. Preliminary information from the National Crisis Management Centre suggests the drone originated from Belarus and was traveling west before being intercepted over a rural area near Lake Kaunas.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys expressed gratitude to NATO allies for their protective measures, emphasizing the alliance's unity and resolve. The Baltic states frequently report drone incursions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with NATO members Poland and Estonia also taking preventive actions against Russian drone activity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at potential de-escalation steps following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a halt in targeting each other's energy sites. Meanwhile, NATO forces continue to engage Ukrainian drones targeting Russian military installations, while Russia has been redirecting Ukrainian drones towards Saint Petersburg, a region on the Gulf of Finland.

The Lithuanian president has expressed interest in participating in Western nuclear deterrence against Russia, following the removal of constitutional restrictions on nuclear weapons storage within the country.