Italian NATO jet downs drone in Lithuania
This photo shows the logo of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the US flag prior to a meeting by the US special envoy for Ukraine and the NATO Secretary General, to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. PHOTO: REUTERS
An Italian NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace on Tuesday that "most probably" came from Russia, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said.
The drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Russian ally Belarus after midnight and was shot down near the southern village of Pratkunai not far from the city of Kaunas, the Lithuanian national crisis management centre said.
"Last night, again, the Italian pilots have intervened and they have shot down a threat that most probably came from Russia", Crosetto told reporters at Siauliai Air Base, where Italian fighters are based as part of the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission.
"The presence of Italian aircraft here is the clear demonstration of the value of the Atlantic alliance for Italy and what it means to be an ally", he said after meeting crews with Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas.
Russia did not immediately comment on the incident. Kaunas said on social media the drone carried an explosive.