Lithuania confirms downed drone carried an explosive device

Lithuania's defence ministry said Italian personnel serving on NATO's Baltic air-defence mission successfully shot down the drone early on September 15. The wreckage fell near Pratkūnai village, about 100 kilometres from Vilnius.

The National Crisis Management Centre said the drone likely entered from the direction of Belarus, remained in Lithuanian airspace for about 30 minutes and flew along the outskirts of populated areas. Bomb-disposal experts found and neutralized an explosive device. No casualties or major ground damage were confirmed.

Lithuanian military officials said this was the first drone shot down in the country's airspace. The model, operator and mission remain under investigation. Arrival from the direction of Belarus does not establish Belarusian or Russian control and does not rule out other origins.

This report is based on the Lithuanian defence ministry's official statement and cross-checked with Associated Press and Reuters reporting. Residents should follow government alerts and avoid debris; responsibility should not be assigned before investigators publish evidence.