NATO fighter jet shoots down drone in Lithuania
A NATO fighter jet intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone in Lithuania that likely originated from Belarus. This incident follows a series of similar drone incursions in Baltic nations, raising concerns about the spillover of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Why it matters
Frequent airspace violations near NATO borders increase the risk of accidental escalation between the alliance and Russia.
A NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in Lithuania shortly after midnight on Tuesday (September 15, 2026), the Lithuanian national crisis management centre said.
The drone, which likely entered from Belarus, was shot down near Pratkunai village in southern Lithuania, near Kaunas, the second-largest city, the centre’s spokesperson said. Its origin is yet to be determined, he said.
A drone alert was issued earlier in the capital Vilnius and surrounding region.
Fighters with the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission have patrolled the skies of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia since the Baltic countries joined the alliance in 2004. The mission’s jets shot down stray Ukrainian drones over Estonia in May, and Latvia in June and August.
Military drones straying into the airspace of Russia’s neighbours have stoked concerns that Russia’s war in Ukraine is spilling over NATO’s borders.
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