Nato fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuania's airspace near Kaunas shortly after midnight on Tuesday, according to the Lithuanian national crisis management centre. The drone, which likely entered from Belarus, was destroyed by NATO forces, the centre’s spokesperson said. The origin of the drone remains undetermined, the spokesperson added.

Lithuania’s president, Gitanas Nausėda, confirmed the incident on social media, stating that NATO fighter jets had destroyed the drone. He emphasized the importance of NATO readiness amid Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine. The incident occurred near Pratkunai village, a location close to the second-largest city of Kaunas, according to the crisis management centre.

The drone alert was first sounded in Vilnius, the capital, and surrounding areas, prompting residents to take shelter. Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence noted that its armed forces and Italian pilots serving in the NATO Air Defence Mission responded swiftly and responsibly to the incursion. The mission has been active since the Baltic states joined NATO in 2004, under Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

Military drone incursions have become more frequent in Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia have all experienced similar incidents, with NATO jets scrambling to shoot down stray Ukrainian drones. Ukraine has blamed Russia for using electronic warfare to alter the flight paths of its drones, leading to unintended incursions into NATO airspace.

Moscow has not commented on the incident, despite Lithuania’s proximity to Belarus, a key Russian ally. The country shares a significant portion of its southern and eastern border with Belarus, raising concerns about potential cross-border threats. Residents in Vilnius were forced to take shelter in May after a drone alert triggered a temporary disruption of flights and rail travel.

The incident highlights the growing concern that Russia’s war in Ukraine is spilling over into NATO territory. Ukraine has increased its long-range drone attacks on Russia, including in the Baltic Sea area, with several drones straying into the airspace of Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The exact cause of the drone’s deviation remains under investigation, with no official confirmation of Russian involvement.

The situation underscores the ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges of managing cross-border security threats in an era of heightened military activity.