NATO Fighter Jets Shoot Down Foreign Drone in Lithuania

A number of NATO fighter jets were scrambled to shoot down a foreign drone detected in Lithuanian airspace. This is the latest security incident on NATO’s eastern flank, as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.

Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia — NATO member states with long borders with Russia — have frequently reported airspace intrusions by drones since Moscow launched its full-scale military invasion of Kyiv in 2022.

“A drone that had just entered Lithuanian airspace has been destroyed by NATO fighter jets,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in a statement on social media platform X, as reported by AFP on Tuesday (15/9/2026).

“Amid Russia’s increasing aggression against Ukraine, this kind of readiness is absolutely vital for our region,” he said.

A report by Lithuania’s national radio station, LRT, citing initial data from the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC), stated that the foreign drone originated from neighbouring Belarus and was moving westward.

According to the LRT report, after being shot down by NATO fighter jets, the drone crashed in a rural area near Lake Kaunas in central Lithuania.

In response to the incident, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys expressed his gratitude to NATO allies “whose presence helps protect our airspace and strengthen our security”.

“This is the best example of allied unity and resolve in concrete action — sending a clear message that NATO remains vigilant, committed and on standby,” Budrys said in his statement.

The shooting down of the foreign drone came after a mysterious drone incident detected in Lithuanian airspace on Sunday (13 September). The object, suspected to be a drone, prompted the temporary closure of Vilnius Airport and the deployment of at least one NATO fighter jet. However, the object turned out to be nothing more than a flock of birds.