Drone Downed in Lithuania Was Russian and Likely Aimed at Ukraine, President Nausėda Says

Sep. 16, 2026 Military police vehicles stand parked near the site where a NATO fighter jet shot down a drone near Pratkunai village, Lithuania. Lithuanian Army / Reuters A drone that was shot down by a NATO fighter jet in the skies above Lithuania for the first time was likely directed at Ukraine and veered off course, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Wednesday. “Most likely, it was a Russian drone intended for Ukraine that was diverted from its course by Ukrainian electronic warfare measures and entered our territory, where it was shot down,” Nausėda told reporters after a state defense council meeting. Nausėda identified the drone as a Gerbera, a low-cost plywood long-range aerial drone used by Russia. Gerberas are often employed as decoys to overwhelm air defenses, but they can also carry explosives. An Italian fighter jet that is part of NATO’s Baltic air policing mission intercepted the unmanned aircraft over central Lithuania early Tuesday. Russia has not commented on the incident. Suspected Russian drones have previously been shot down over Poland, Romania, Latvia and Estonia, all of which are NATO and EU members. Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT, citing government officials, reported that the drone entered the country from Belarus and crossed 100 kilometers (62 miles) of territory before it was shot down. Belarus is not formally involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine, but it has allowed Russian forces to use its territory as a staging ground for military operations. Nausėda said the Lithuanian army is analyzing the drone’s electronics to determine its targeting. He said Lithuania needs to have the means to intercept drones, but questioned the efficiency of using fighter jets to do so. The president also said that the security situation in Lithuania and across NATO countries more broadly remains unchanged, but warned that “incidents, provocation, sabotage acts, including false-flag operations” are still possible. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Drones , Lithuania Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Army Preparing ‘Appropriate’ Response After Latvia Accused of Hosting Ukrainian Drones NATO has dismissed Moscow’s claims that it is allowing Ukraine to launch drone attacks from territory within the military bloc. 2 Min read Woman Killed in Ukrainian Drone Strike on Kursk Border Region Authorities said the woman was killed in the village of Belitsa, around 25 kilometers from the border with northeastern Ukraine’s Sumy region. 1 Min read Feature 'A Bit Unusual': Russia's Sochi Resort Grapples With Ukrainian Drones Disruptions to daily life have become more frequent in this summer escape on the Black Sea as Ukraine ups its long-range drone strikes on Russia. 3 Min read Suspected Russian Drone Found at Military Training Site in Lithuania Lithuanian military authorities recovered the drone at the Gaižiūnai training grounds, near the town of Rukla, which also hosts a NATO battalion. 2 Min read