NATO Jets Shoot Down Drone Over Lithuanian Airspace

Italian NATO fighter jets shot down an unidentified drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus early on September 15, 2026.

The drone was downed near the village of Pratkunai, approximately 60 miles west of the capital, Vilnius. Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas stated that bomb disposal experts later neutralised an explosive device found at the drone's crash site. However, Kaunas also indicated that initial reports suggested the drone might not have contained explosives, with further confirmation pending.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda thanked NATO for its swift response, emphasizing the importance of readiness along the alliance's eastern flank amid Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The incident marks the first time a drone has been shot down in Lithuanian airspace. Lithuanian officials are examining the drone's wreckage to determine its origin and purpose. In a separate incident, Denmark reported that a Russian frigate fired flares at a Danish military helicopter conducting surveillance in the Baltic Sea. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had previously warned that strikes close to NATO territory would increase support for Ukraine.