Two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons flying under NATO command shot down a drone over Lithuanian airspace overnight, the first time a drone has been intercepted over the Baltic country, officials said Tuesday.
The jets were scrambled from Siauliai air base and destroyed the drone near the village of Pratkūnai, roughly 60 miles northwest of Vilnius.
A NATO official told Fox News Digital: “Last night, two Italian Eurofighters deployed on NATO Air Defence mission at Siauliai, scrambled and shot down a drone over Lithuanian airspace. The operation was coordinated through NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany. Investigations are ongoing together with national authorities.”
Lithuanian officials said the drone likely entered the country from neighboring Belarus and spent about 30 minutes in Lithuanian airspace before being shot down. Lithuanian Air Force Commander Antanas Matutis said the recovered drone was “likely” carrying explosives. Investigators are examining the wreckage to establish its origin and purpose.
The interception came less than a day after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that attacks near alliance territory would push the 32-member bloc to expand its support for Ukraine. Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Rutte said strikes “close to NATO territory” reflected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “desperation and also his desire to sow fear and terror.”
“Russia is growing increasingly reckless as it continues its terrible war against Ukraine,” Rutte said.
Rutte also pledged to reinforce NATO defenses along its eastern flank.
In a separate incident Tuesday, Denmark said a Russian frigate fired flares at a Danish military helicopter carrying out routine surveillance over the Baltic Sea. Denmark summoned Russia’s ambassador in response.
Russia meanwhile continued drone strikes across Ukraine, killing three people in Kyiv, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv remained ready to support de-escalation if the United States could guarantee Russia was prepared to halt its attacks. Ukrainian forces also struck an oil refinery in Syzran and a drone production facility in Taganrog, he said.
