Nato has scrambled fighter jets over Lithuania after an unidentified object entered the country’s airspace, triggering emergency alerts for residents.
Alliance fighter jets shot down the intruder shortly after midnight as authorities responded to the incursion over the eastern European country.
The drone is believed to have entered the country from Belarus and was shot down near Pratkunai village in southern Lithuania, near Kaunas, the second-largest, according to a spokesman from the Lithuanian national crisis management centre.
At 10.39pm, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda said on social media: “A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by Nato fighter jets.
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“I thank Allied personnel for their swift response.”
The origin of the drone is yet to be determined, the spokesman for the Lithuanian national crisis management centre added.
The President of Lithuania added: “With Russia intensifying its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for our region.
“Together with our Nato Allies, Lithuania will defend its airspace.”
Lithuanian armed forces and Italian pilots in the Nato Air Defence Mission “showed a swift and responsible response” to the incident, Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence said.
A drone alert was earlier issued in the capital Vilnius and surrounding region.
The drone takedown follows Germany confirming it would send thousands of troops to Lithuania – the first soldiers could be deployed as soon as the end of the month, according to information obtained by Bild.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters the next few months of could be vital for Europe.
“We are most likely living through decisive weeks or months for the defence of freedom and peace on our continent,” he said.
“If Russia wins, the consequences for all of us, including Germany, would be unpredictable.
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“That is why I stand firmly here and am not prepared to give up a single centimeter.”
By the end of next year, the 45th Panzer Brigade is expected to be permanently based in Lithuania with nearly 5,000 Germans on Nato’s eastern flank.
Around 80 per cent of German forces currently in the country are there on a voluntary basis.
The Germany Ministry of Defence said in a statement: “According to current forecasts, and in view of the continued influx of volunteer applications, the number of compulsory postings is expected to be in the mid three-figure range.”
Nato has increasingly scrambled fighter jets to shoot down drones breaching its borders amid fears the Russian invasion of Ukraine was expanding into the rest of Europe.
On Sunday, Geran-5 “missile drones” were believed to have crossed into Polish airspace as emergency alerts told locals to urgently seek shelter.
Lithuania, along with Estonia and Latvia represent Nato’s eastern front, joining the military alliance in 2004 and becoming signatories to the Article 5 provision that states “an armed attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against all members”.
Jets from the alliance shot down Ukrainian drones over Estonia in May, and Latvia in June and August.
Ukraine blamed Russian electromagnetic warfare for the drones entering Nato territory, saying flight paths were altered.
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