On September 15, 2026, NATO fighter jets shot down a drone near Pratkunai village in Lithuania, marking the first such incident in the country. The drone entered from Belarus and remained in Lithuanian airspace for about 30 minutes before being intercepted; military officials suspect it was carrying explosives. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the alliance's commitment to bolster defenses following a recent speech where he warned of Russia’s increasing aggression near allied territories.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight, officials said Tuesday (September 15, 2026), less than a day after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that strikes close to the alliance's territory would drive the trans-Atlantic organisation to increase its support for Kyiv.
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organisation → shoot → Kyiv
The drone was downed near the village of Pratkunai in the Kaišiadorys district, about 60 miles (100 kilometres) west of the country's capital, Vilnius, and near the Kaunas Reservoir, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre said Tuesday (September 15).
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Centre → down → Reservoir
Lithuania's military said that the incident marked the first time that a drone had been shot down in the country's airspace.
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drone → say → airspace
Authorities didn't comment on the drone's origin or purpose, saying the incident needed further investigation.
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incident → comment → investigation
The incursion follows a speech by Mr. Rutte on Monday (September 14) at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where he said that strikes “close to NATO territory” showed Russian President Vladimir Putin's “desperation and also his desire to sow fear and terror.”
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strikes → follow → fear
“Russia is growing increasingly reckless as it continues its terrible war against Ukraine,” Mr. Rutte said.
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Rutte → grow → Ukraine
He also pledged to bolster the 32-nation alliance's own defences along its long eastern border with Russia.
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He → pledge → Russia
Drone ‘likely’ to be carrying explosives
The menace of drones has repeatedly loomed over the skies of Lithuania, which shares borders with Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
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which → carry → Kaliningrad
Antanas Matutis, commander of the Lithuanian air force, said that the wreckage had been found, and the drone “likely” was carrying explosives.
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drone → say → explosives
Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the crisis centre, told Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT that the drone most likely entered from Belarus.
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drone → tell → Belarus
It remained in Lithuanian airspace for about 30 minutes and flew along the outskirts of populated areas before being intercepted, he said.
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he → remain → areas
Kyiv says ‘it's ready to support de-escalation’
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it → say → escalation
Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes continued across Ukraine following a social media post from U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (September 14) that Russia and Ukraine had agreed “not to hit” each other's energy infrastructure.
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Russia → continue → infrastructure
Mr. Trump didn't offer further details on the purported agreement, and Russia didn't immediately comment on Mr. Trump's post.
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Russia → offer → post
Previous efforts to broker even a partial ceasefire have repeatedly fallen apart within hours, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
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sides → broker → violations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday (September 14) that Kyiv was “ready to support de-escalation.”
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Kyiv → say → escalation
“We see that the Russians feel the pressure from our precise strikes on Russia's war economy.
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Russians → see → economy
And so far, no one has seen any genuine desire on Russia's part to move toward ending the war,” he said.
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he → see → war
“But if our American partners can ensure that Russia is genuinely ready to stop this war aimed at destroying life — and to do so for real and for the long term — Ukraine will take its own de-escalatory steps.”
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Ukraine → ensure → steps
Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Tuesday (September 15) that eight people were wounded in Russian strikes on Kyiv since the start of the day, including two who were wounded in strikes on the capital's gas stations.
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who → say → stations
Elsewhere, Russian forces shot down 222 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday (September 15).
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Ministry → shoot → drones
A “massive” Ukrainian drone attack sparked several fires in the Russian city of Taganrog, regional Gov Yuri Slyusar said.
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Slyusar → spark → Taganrog
He said on Telegram that two apartment buildings and three private homes had been damaged, as well as an educational institution, agricultural warehouses and a site belonging to Russian e-retailer Ozon.
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buildings → say → Ozon
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