Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Italian NATO Jet Shoots Down Drone in Lithuania
An Italian fighter jet working with NATO shot down a drone over Lithuania.
This happened shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
The drone came into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
It crashed near a village called Pratkunai, close to Kaunas.
An alert had earlier been issued for Vilnius and nearby areas.
Italy’s defence minister said the drone probably came from Russia.
Lithuanian officials said they still needed to examine the wreckage before deciding where it came from.
The drone was reported to have carried an explosive.
The event caused concern because drones connected to the war in Ukraine have entered nearby NATO airspace.
An Italian fighter serving NATO’s Baltic Air Defence mission shot down a drone in Lithuania shortly after midnight Tuesday.
The drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and was brought down near Pratkunai village, close to Kaunas.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the drone most probably came from Russia, while Lithuanian officials said its origin remained undetermined.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the drone carried an explosive, and officials planned to examine its debris.
The incident renewed concerns that the war in Ukraine could spill into NATO airspace, amid repeated reports of drones straying into the region.
- Who
- An Italian NATO fighter jet, Lithuanian authorities, and Italian and Lithuanian defence ministers were involved.
- What
- A fighter jet shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace; officials said it may have carried an explosive.
- When
- Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, September 15.
- Where
- Near Pratkunai village in southern Lithuania, close to Kaunas; an alert was issued in Vilnius and the surrounding region.
- Why
- The drone entered Lithuanian airspace and was treated as a threat, but its exact origin and purpose had not yet been confirmed.
Possible Russian Origin
Origin Still Unconfirmed
Attribution
Possible Russian Origin
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the threat most probably came from Russia, and the drone entered from Belarus, a Russian ally.
Origin Still Unconfirmed
Lithuanian officials said the drone’s origin had not been determined and that debris examination was needed before identifying it.
Possible Intent
Possible Russian Origin
The Lithuanian defence minister said the drone carried an explosive, and officials said it could represent a Russian provocation.
Origin Still Unconfirmed
Officials had not established whether it was a Russian drone, a provocation, or a drone from another country.
Regional Responsibility
Possible Russian Origin
The incident was presented as part of broader concerns that Russia’s war in Ukraine is spilling into NATO airspace.
Origin Still Unconfirmed
Ukraine has said previous incidents involving Ukrainian drones were caused by Russian signal jamming that pushed the drones off course.
- Aircraft
- An Italian fighter operating under NATO’s Baltic Air Defence mission.
- Incident
- The fighter shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace shortly after midnight Tuesday.
- Crash site
- Near Pratkunai village in southern Lithuania, close to Kaunas.
- Entry route
- Lithuanian officials said the drone entered from Belarus.
- Suspected origin
- Guido Crosetto said it most probably came from Russia, while Lithuanian officials said the origin remained undetermined.
- Payload
- Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the drone carried an explosive.
- Alert
- A drone alert was issued in Vilnius and the surrounding region.
- Regional context
- Drones have repeatedly strayed into NATO airspace amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and increased Ukrainian long-range drone attacks on Russia.