NATO fighter jets shoot down an unidentified drone that enters Lithuanian airspace early Tuesday, Lithuanian officials say. The incident occurs along the alliance’s eastern flank and follows recent episodes involving NATO forces in the Baltic region.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda says the drone was destroyed after it entered Lithuanian airspace, with some reporting placing the downing near the village of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys area. Several outlets describe it as part of a pattern of drone incursions reported by NATO member states Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.
Outlets differ on operational details. Some reporting suggests the drone originated from or was launched from neighboring Belarus, an ally of Russia, while others state only that the launch point is unknown. One outlet links the broader timing to NATO’s posture toward support for Ukraine, and some place the event within a wider context of ongoing Russian military activity against European interests and continued aerial tension over the Baltic.
