NATO fighter jets shoot down drone over Lithuania

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said early Tuesday morning that NATO fighter jets shot down a drone over Lithuania.

He added, “Amid Russia’s intensified aggression against Ukraine, this readiness is of paramount importance to our region. Together with our NATO allies, Lithuania will defend its airspace.”

Lithuania borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which lies on the Baltic Sea, as well as Belarus, a close ally of Moscow. Lithuania has felt particularly threatened since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Lithuanian government, the country’s military intelligence agencies possess information suggesting that Russia may be considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic states.

The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) are currently forming a German armored brigade in Lithuania.

This force, comprising 4,800 soldiers and capable of independent combat readiness and deployment, is expected to be operational by 2027.