Debris of the intercepted unmanned aerial vehicle fell in central Lithuania
President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda commented on the destruction of a drone that violated the country's airspace on the night of September 15, 2026. Italian NATO fighter jets downed the device, with its wreckage falling near Kaunas. This was reported by Glavcom, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Gitanas Nausėda thanked the allied military personnel for their prompt response and emphasized the importance of such readiness amid Russian aggression against Ukraine. The head of state stressed that Vilnius, together with its Alliance partners, will continue to resolutely protect its airspace.
Air raid alert and interception
The appearance of the flying object triggered air raid alerts in the southern regions of the country, specifically in Vilnius and Kaunas. Due to the threat, a yellow air danger level was introduced nationwide. Later, Head of the National Crisis Management Center Vilmantas Vitkauskas confirmed the elimination of the target in Kaunas County.
Preliminary data on UAV route
The wreckage of the downed vehicle fell in central Lithuania near Kaunas, where specialized experts began identifying the equipment type. Initial information suggests the drone may have entered the country from the territory of Belarus. Meanwhile, specialists continue to investigate all circumstances of the incident.
Regional context of the incident
This event marked the first documented destruction of a violator directly over Lithuanian territory. Previously, similar interceptions were carried out by NATO forces over Latvia, Estonia, and Romania.
Photo: Armyinform
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