NATO fighter jets destroyed a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda thanked Allied personnel for their swift response.
Nausėda said on X.
“A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets. I thank Allied personnel for their swift response,” the president said.
Nausėda linked the need for such readiness to Russia’s intensifying aggression against Ukraine.
“With Russia intensifying its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for our region,” he stressed.
The Lithuanian president added that the country, together with its NATO allies, would defend its airspace.
Nausėda’s statement did not specify the origin of the destroyed drone.
According to LRT, debris from the downed drone was found near the village of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys district. The area was cordoned off, with military police, army specialists, rescuers, law enforcement officers and medics working at the scene.
Authorities activated the “Shield” plan, while specialists began inspecting and collecting the drone debris. Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre said the drone had likely arrived from Belarusian territory.
The type of drone and whether it was carrying explosives have not yet been established. According to LRT, this is the first recent case in which a drone entering Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets.
