Nato Jets Intercept Drone Near Vilnius, Lithuania Issues Air Danger Warning

Nato military jets have been scrambled to intercept a drone that flew near Vilnius, Lithuania’s defence minister has said, as residents were urged to seek shelter immediately.

Lithuania on Wednesday issued an “air danger” warning and suspended traffic ⁠at the capital's airport amid fears of drones violating the country's airspace.

"Immediately take shelter in a safe place, take care of ⁠your close ones, await ​new ⁠recommendations," Lithuania's army said in a message sent to people in ⁠the country's capital.

A warning was also issued in the Vilnius parliament building with a warning announcement issued over the intercom amid the reported incursion.

“Due to the risk of air attack, we ask all persons in the building to go to the nearest shelter,” said an announcement on parliament's intercom.

Lithuania's national crisis management centre earlier said it had issued an alert in response to a drone in neighbouring Belarus that was seen flying towards Lithuania, adding the drone's origin had not been confirmed.

The country’s defence minister said that Lithuania does not yet know whether the drone is Ukrainian.

Vilnius airport said it had restarted flights after the warning.

It is the latest in a series of airspace violations in the region amid frequent altercations between Russia and Ukraine.

On Tuesday, a Nato fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia, the Baltic country said. Ukraine apologised for the “unintended incident” and Russia warned of retaliation if Ukrainian drones are launched from Baltic countries.

Given the trajectory of the drone, “we decided that we need to take it down,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

“Most probably, today we can say that it was (a) drone which was, let’s say, meant to hit some Russian targets,” he told The Associated Press.

More to follow...