NATO member makes desperate plea after 'Russian' drone carrying explosives crashes

Lithuanian troops on a parade through the capital Vilnius (Image: Getty)

Lithuania has made a plea to NATO to help strengthen its air defences after a suspected Russian drone crossed its border from Belarus. The unmanned aircraft, reportedly carrying two kilogrammes of explosives, crashed into a military training area.

Two senior Lithuanian ministers have written to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte calling for the alliance to bolster the nation’s defences. The incident was the second of its kind in July, with defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė saying they had requested the deployment of additional, “even experimental”, capabilities. She warned “similar incidents” are likely to continue amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Lithuania has appealed for additional help from NATO allies (Image: Getty)

“It means we must take additional measures,” she said, according to POLITICO.

The drone reportedly crossed into Lithuania on July 28 and took almost a week to locate.

Authorities believe the drone was directed by Russia towards Kyiv but became disorientated and accidentally entered Lithuania airspace, POLITICO reported.

An investigation into the incident is underway with foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys saying there is, as it stands, “no reason” to believe the drone was “deliberately launched” into Lithuania.

Russia has been increasing its air attacks on Ukraine in recent months, with June and July seeing record aerial assaults from Moscow’s forces, using both drones and missiles.

Major Russian attacks on western Ukraine have seen NATO fighter jets scrambled in Poland as a precautionary measure.

This includes last Monday - the same day the drone which crashed entered Lithuanian airspace.

Other nations that border Ukraine, such as Romania and Latvia, have reported similar incidents.

Mr Budrys said this represents “a concern for all of NATO” and called for joint efforts to address “new types of threats”.

“This is not just Lithuanian airspace, not just Lithuania’s security - it is NATO airspace, NATO security and also EU security.”

NATO already strengthens its air defences along its eastern flank, including in Lithuania, through the deployment of additional allied fighter jets.

RAF Typhoons are regularly deployed to the region as part of the policing missions.