An Italian fighter assigned to NATO’s Baltic Air Defence mission shot down a drone after it entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus overnight, Lithuanian authorities said. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the aircraft, which was destroyed near the southern village of Pratkunai, “most probably” came from Russia, though Lithuanian officials said a final determination will depend on an examination of the wreckage.
The drone crossed into Lithuania after midnight on Tuesday from Belarus, a Russian ally, according to Lithuania’s national crisis management centre. It was brought down near Pratkunai, not far from Kaunas. A drone alert had been issued earlier Tuesday for Vilnius and the surrounding region.
Italian crews respond from Siauliai
Crosetto announced the interception at Siauliai Air Base, where Italian aircraft are deployed for the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission. After meeting Italian crews alongside Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas, he described the engagement as another intervention by Italian pilots against a threat believed likely to have originated in Russia.
“Last night, again, the Italian pilots have intervened and they have shot down a threat that most probably came from Russia”,
Guido Crosetto, Italian defense minister
Crosetto said the deployment illustrated the alliance’s value to Italy and the practical meaning of allied commitments. NATO fighters have patrolled the airspace of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia under the Baltic Air Defence mission since the three countries joined the alliance in 2004.
“The presence of Italian aircraft here is the clear demonstration of the value of the Atlantic alliance for Italy and what it means to be an ally,”
Guido Crosetto, Italian defense minister
Explosive reported; origin not yet confirmed
Kaunas said on social media that the drone carried an explosive. He cautioned that investigators must assess the debris before assigning its origin or motive, including whether the incursion could constitute a provocation. Russia did not immediately comment on the incident.
“Then we will be able to say clearly, whether this is a Russian drone and it’s possibly a provocation, or whether it is another country’s drone,”
Robertas Kaunas, Lithuanian defense minister
Video released by the Lithuanian Army showed debris dispersed across grass at the crash site. Some visible components appeared to be made of wood, while other pieces appeared charred. The material is to be examined as authorities work to establish the drone’s identity and origin.
Repeated regional drone incidents
The episode follows a series of drone incursions into NATO airspace in the Baltic region. Ukrainian drones have repeatedly crossed into alliance airspace in recent months; Kyiv has said Russian signal jamming pushed those aircraft off course. NATO mission fighters shot down stray Ukrainian drones over Estonia in May and over Latvia in June and August.
The repeated incidents have heightened concern that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill over NATO borders. Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks against Russia, including in the Baltic Sea area, while military drones straying into the airspace of Russia’s neighbors have become an increasingly visible regional security issue.
