Incident
NATO aircraft shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle after it entered Lithuanian airspace, officials said. The action was taken after the drone was detected inside the country’s airspace, according to authorities.
Origin and assessment
The origin of the drone has not been confirmed. Lithuanian authorities said the device most likely crossed the border from neighbouring Belarus, a country that is an ally of Russia.
Regional implications
Officials have not released further operational details. The incident is likely to attract attention from regional and alliance-level authorities given the involvement of NATO aircraft and the drone’s suspected trajectory from Belarus.
Follow-up
Investigations and any formal statements from NATO, Lithuanian authorities or neighbouring states were expected to provide additional information as enquiries proceed.