A drone that was shot down by an Italian NATO fighter jet in Lithuania after midnight on Tuesday (September 15) morning "most probably" came from Russia, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said later on Tuesday.

Crosetto and Lithuanian Defence Minister, Robertas Kaunas spoke at a joint press statement in Siauliai, Lithuania. Kaunas said drone incidents like these may become more frequent in the Baltic region, unless Russia is forced to negotiate for peace - something the minister said Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to do.

The Italian NATO fighter jet shot down a drone over Lithuania shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning, the Lithuanian national crisis management centre said. The drone, which was likely to have entered from Belarus, was shot down near Pratkunai village in southern Lithuania, near Kaunas, the second-largest city, the center's spokesperson said.

Lithuanian officials did not say whether the drone was believed to be Ukrainian or Russian. In recent months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly entered NATO air space in the Baltic region. Kyiv says they were steered off course by Russian signal jamming.

A drone alert was issued earlier in the capital Vilnius and surrounding region.

The Lithuanian Army shared video from the site of the crash, showing debris scattered in grass. Some of the parts appeared to be made from wood and some appeared charred. Fighters with the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission have patrolled the skies of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia since the Baltic countries joined the alliance in 2004. The mission's jets shot down stray Ukrainian drones over Estonia in May, and over Latvia in June and August.

Military drones straying into the airspace of Russia's neighbours have stoked concerns that Russia's war in Ukraine is spilling over NATO's borders. Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks on Russia, including in the Baltic Sea area.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SIAULIAI, LITHUANIA, (SEPTEMBER 15, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ARRIVAL OF LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ROBERTAS KAUNAS AND ITALIAN COUNTERPART GUIDO CROSETTO TO PRESS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Lithuanian) LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ROBERTAS KAUNAS, SAYING:

"The war in Ukraine has been going on for five years, and although it seems to be 1,000 km away – well, it seems very far away – the war is, sadly, spreading. Russia does not want peace; it refuses to sit down at the negotiating table. Putin does not want peace, even though the United States is making great efforts, and Europe is making great efforts, and Ukraine has clearly stated that it wants to live in peace – yet Putin does not want this. If we do not achieve peace, if we do not force Russia to negotiate for peace, then, unfortunately, such incidents in the Baltic region may become more frequent."

3. EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON BEHIND MINISTERS

4. CROSETTO DURING PRESS STATEMENT

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, GUIDO CROSETTO, SAYING:

"Last night, just as they did a month ago, Italian pilots intervened and shot down a threat that most probably originated from Russia."

6. MICROPHONES

7. CROSETTO LEAVING PRESS STATEMENT

8. EUROFIGHTER

9. CROSETTO AND OTHERS IN CONVERSATION

STORY: A drone that was shot down by an Italian NATO fighter