NATO fighter jets have shot down a drone over Lithuania, President Gitanas Nausėda announced on Tuesday morning.
“A drone that had just entered Lithuanian airspace has been destroyed by NATO fighter jets,” Nausėda said on X.
“I thank the Alliance personnel for their swift response,” Nausėda wrote.
“As Russia intensifies its aggression against Ukraine, this level of readiness is vital for our region. Together with our NATO allies, Lithuania will defend its airspace,” Nausėda added.
Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, citing data from the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC), reported that
the drone had entered from Belarus and was flying westwards.
It crashed in a rural area near Kaunas Reservoir in the central part of the country.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys thanked the country’s allies on X, saying their “presence helps defend our skies and strengthens our security”.
“This is the best example of Alliance unity and resolve in action, sending a clear signal that NATO is vigilant, determined and ready,” Budrys added.
Lithuania borders Russia’s Kaliningrad region as well as Russia’s ally Belarus. The country has felt particularly threatened since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Baltic states have recently reported regular incursions by drones into their territory.
In May, a NATO fighter jet shot down a Ukrainian drone over Estonia, marking the first interception of a foreign drone in the airspace of a Baltic state by NATO’s air policing forces.
Lithuanian military intelligence has information suggesting that Russia may be considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic states.
The German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, are currently establishing a German brigade in Lithuania. The combat-ready and independently deployable force, comprising 4,800 troops, is expected to become operational by 2027.
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