Nato jets down drone that entered Lithuanian airspace

NATO fighter jets downed a drone that entered Lithuania's airspace overnight, according to the Lithuanian president. Authorities stated the drone likely entered from Belarus near the city of Kaunas shortly after midnight on Tuesday. President Gitanas Nausėda announced on social media that NATO fighter jets destroyed the unauthorized drone.

Lithuania's Ministry of Defence praised the quick and responsible response from the country's armed forces and Italian pilots serving in the NATO Air Defence Mission. The incident occurred as Russia escalates its aggression against Ukraine, and Nausėda emphasized the importance of regional readiness. Lithuania shares much of its southern and eastern border with Belarus, a key Russian ally.

Despite drone sightings on Sunday, the crisis management centre later confirmed the object likely entered from Belarus and traveled across Lithuania before entering Russian airspace. Military drone incursions have increased in Europe since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Poland also reporting aviation operations in its airspace due to Russian drones targeting Ukraine.

Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, all NATO members since 2004, joined Article 5, which obliges members to consider an armed attack on one as an attack on all. NATO jets have intercepted Ukrainian drones crossing into the Baltics this year, with Ukraine blaming Russian electronic warfare for the incidents.