NATO shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace

**NATO shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace**

NATO fighter jets have destroyed a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced this on his X page.

According to officials, the drone may have entered the southern part of Lithuania from neighboring Belarus on September 15.

"Just now, a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets," Gitanas Nausėda wrote during the night.

The National Crisis Management Center of Lithuania stated that the ownership of the drone has not yet been determined. On the morning of September 15, a warning regarding a drone threat was issued in the city of Vilnius and its surrounding areas.

"The Lithuanian Armed Forces and responsible Italian pilots serving in the NATO Air Policing mission responded swiftly to the drone attack," the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense said.

Nausėda stated that such preparedness is crucial while Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues.

"Lithuania, together with our NATO allies, will protect its airspace," the president emphasized.

Moscow has not commented on the incident. A large part of Lithuania's southern and eastern borders adjoins Belarus, a key ally of Russia. Drone flights were also recorded in Lithuania on September 13. Later, the Crisis Management Center stated that the object most likely entered from Belarus and moved across the country before entering Russian airspace.

As Russia's war against Ukraine continues, military drones entering the airspace of European countries are being observed frequently.