Signal NATO jets shoot down Russian-origin drone over Lithuania, first such incident

Summary

Italian NATO fighter jets on Baltic Air Policing duty shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace before dawn on September 15, 2026, near Pratkunai village, about 90km northwest of Vilnius. The drone is believed to have entered from Belarus and remained in Lithuanian airspace for roughly 30 minutes before interception. Two senior officials said the device likely carried explosives, though authorities have not formally confirmed its origin or purpose pending further investigation. This is the first time a drone has been shot down in Lithuanian airspace. Around the same time, a Russian warship reportedly fired flares at a Danish military helicopter conducting reconnaissance over the Baltic Sea, adding to a string of provocations along NATO's eastern flank.