NATO Fighter Jets Down Drone Amid Rising Russian Threats

NATO fighter jets intercepted and destroyed a drone that breached Lithuania’s airspace on Tuesday morning, according to the country’s president. Authorities reported that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) entered from Belarus, closely allied with Russia.

The drone traveled over Lentvaris near Vilnius before two NATO aircraft shot it down near Kaunas. President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized on X the importance of regional readiness, citing increased Russian aggression toward Ukraine. He affirmed Lithuania’s commitment to airspace defense alongside NATO allies.

The Russian defense ministry has been approached for a statement by Newsweek.

Countries on NATO’s eastern border express growing worries about the Ukraine conflict extending into alliance territories. Incidents of Russian drones breaching NATO airspace are not new, with a recent entry of a suspected Russian Shahed-type drone into Romanian airspace recorded last week.

This story is ongoing, with further updates anticipated.