NATO fighters shot down a drone that flew into Lithuania from Belarus

On the night of September 15, NATO fighters destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle that violated Lithuanian airspace. According to Lithuanian authorities, the drone entered the country from Belarus. Its type and purpose are still being determined.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and the country's Armed Forces reported the drone's destruction.

According to the Lithuanian military, around midnight, an object moving in the direction of Lithuania was detected in the country's airspace. After identification, allied fighters were scrambled.

Around 00:20, the drone was destroyed by Italian fighters performing the NATO Baltic airspace patrol mission. The Lithuanian military reported that the drone's debris has already been found, and the crash site is guarded by military police and law enforcement.

Head of the Lithuanian National Crisis Management Center Vilmantas Vitkauskas reported that the drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarusian territory. Prior to this, due to the threat, a yellow level of air danger was announced in several regions of the country, and airspace operations in the area of Vilnius Airport were temporarily restricted.

There is no information about deaths, injuries, or damage as a result of the incident.

At the same time, the Lithuanian military is not yet drawing conclusions about the drone's origin and purpose. Specialists must examine the debris and determine the characteristics of the aircraft, including whether it was combat-capable and could carry explosives.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda thanked NATO forces for their rapid reaction. He linked the need for such readiness to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine and stated that Lithuania, together with its allies, will defend its airspace.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of several recent appearances of unknown unmanned objects in the airspace of the Baltic states. The Lithuanian army emphasized that it will not rush to conclusions about the new drone until the investigation is completed.

Sources: Gitanas Nauseda, LRT