Lithuanian authorities confirmed early Tuesday that NATO fighter jets intercepted and destroyed a drone that breached the nation’s airspace. President Gitanas Nauseda publicly thanked the military alliance for its “swift response” to the incident.
Speaking via the social media platform X, Nauseda emphasized that the readiness demonstrated by NATO forces is critical given Russia’s intensified military aggression against Ukraine. He stated that Lithuania will continue to defend its skies in coordination with its NATO allies.
According to preliminary data cited by national broadcaster LRT from the National Crisis Management Center (NKVC), the unmanned aerial vehicle was traveling westward when it was engaged. The drone subsequently crashed in a rural area near Lake Kaunas in central Lithuania. Media reports indicate the aircraft originated from Belarus, a close Russian ally, and entered Lithuanian territory from that direction.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys described the incident as a demonstration of allied vigilance. “The NATO response sent a clear message that NATO stands vigilant, committed, and ready,” Budrys said.
Lithuania shares borders with both Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, making it a frontline state in the region. Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, drone incursions into Lithuanian airspace have become frequent. Similar incidents have also been recorded in neighboring NATO members Latvia and Estonia, highlighting a pattern of hybrid warfare tactics in the Baltic region.
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