Russian drone strike on a passenger bus in Ukraine kills 5 people and wounds at least 7 others

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda revealed during a State Defense Council meeting that a Russian Gerbera electronic warfare drone was veered off course and into Lithuanian airspace by Ukrainian systems on September 15. According to Nausėda, NATO fighter jets subsequently shot down the drone, making it the first time such an incident had occurred over Lithuania.

The drone, which was launched with the intention of attacking Ukraine, was detected as it entered Lithuanian territory around 100 kilometers northwest of the capital, Vilnius. Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed that the drone was equipped with an explosive device, which was subsequently neutralized. Nausėda cautioned that similar incidents could recur in the future, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection of such drones, ideally while they are still over neighboring nations, to enable a more rapid response.

Given Lithuania's proximity to the border, Kaunas noted, timely detection and destruction of the drone are essential.