NATO jets down drone over Lithuanian village, residents recount terrifying night

In the early hours of Tuesday, NATO air-policing aircraft engaged and downed a drone that had crossed into Lithuania from neighboring Belarus, near the small settlement of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys district. The interception produced loud noises, bright flashes and a sizable explosion that residents said shook houses and filled the night with a sense of imminent danger. Witnesses such as Vitalija, Virginija and Kazys described the drone’s roar, the sight of military helicopters, and a blast that felt like “the end of the world.”

Some locals only became aware of the threat after receiving a delayed yellow warning on their phones, prompting criticism of the warning system’s speed. The incident occurred close to the strategic Kruonis Pumped-Storage Power Plant, heightening concerns about security near critical infrastructure. Authorities confirmed this was the first drone shoot-down on Lithuanian territory.