Nato fighter jets scrambled to destroy drone as locals sent phone warning after craft ‘flew over border from Putin pal’

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NATO military jets have been scrambled to shoot down a drone in Lithuania, the country’s National Crisis Management Centre said.

Local reports said the drone had entered the country from neighbouring Belarus, a dictatorship ran by Putin-puppet Alexander Lukashenko.

An urgent warning was sent to phones in Vilnius, Trakai and Elektrėnai, just after midnight local time.

It warned of a potential drone entering Lithuania’s territory and urged residents to find a safe place.

Around half an hour later, authorities reported that the aircraft had been shot down and destroyed in the air by Nato forces.

It is the first drone to be shot down in Lithuanian territory.

Just yesterday, a fighter jet was scrambled and Vilnius airport was closed after a drone threat was reported.

But it turned out the a flock of birds and the airport was reopened within 38 minutes, after the ⁠jet spotted the birds, Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre said.

It added: “On initial radar readings, marks left by birds and drones can be similar.”

Though Sunday’s suspected drone incursion turned out to be a false alarm, the aircraft that crossed into Nato airspace on Monday night was shot down near Navasiolkai, Alytus.

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The town is more than 30 miles from the border with Belarus.

Head of the National Crisis Management Centre Vilmantas Vitkauskas said the drone had been spotted near Trakai, just 14miles from the Lithuanian capital.

It comes as Mad Vlad ramps up his use of hybrid warfare and grey zone tactics to try and scare Nato countries into stopping support for Ukraine.

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda wrote on X: “A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets.

“I thank Allied personnel for their swift response.

“With Russia intensifying its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for our region.

“Together with our NATO Allies, Lithuania will defend its airspace.”

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Monday 14 September

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