NATO fighter jet shoots down drone over Lithuania

A NATO fighter jet shot down a drone over southern Lithuania shortly after midnight on Tuesday, after the unmanned aircraft entered the country's airspace.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the drone had probably originated from Russia, raising fresh concerns about the security of NATO's eastern flank.

The incident occurred as NATO maintains heightened vigilance along its eastern borders amid ongoing tensions between Russia and the military alliance.

Lithuania, which borders Russia's Kaliningrad region as well as Belarus, is a member of NATO and has been closely monitoring potential airspace incursions involving drones and other aircraft.

The circumstances surrounding the drone's flight, including its intended destination and whether it entered Lithuanian airspace deliberately, were not immediately clear.

Crosetto's assessment that the drone probably came from Russia did not establish that the Russian government had intentionally launched the aircraft into Lithuania.

The shooting down of the drone highlights the continuing challenges faced by NATO members bordering Russia and Belarus, where military activity and airspace incidents have prompted increased surveillance and readiness.

NATO fighter aircraft regularly patrol the alliance's eastern members as part of efforts to protect allied airspace and respond rapidly to potential threats.

Lithuanian and NATO authorities are expected to examine the drone and its flight path as part of efforts to determine its origin and purpose.

The incident comes amid wider European concerns over the potential for drones connected to the war in Ukraine to cross into neighbouring countries and create risks for NATO members.