NATO jets scramble as drone crashes in Lithuania near Latvian border

A drone triggered air alerts in Lithuania and Latvia during a Ukrainian nighttime attack on St. Petersburg, prompting NATO fighter jets to scramble before the aircraft crashed near Pasvalys, Lithuania, close to the Latvian border. Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported the drone likely entered Lithuanian airspace from Poland to the south. Military police found drone fragments in Juodžionys after an explosion was heard. Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said radars detected the object at 3:00 GMT, but poor weather prevented visual contact. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said sabotage must be considered, and a National Security Commission meeting is set for Monday. Mobile alerts urged residents to take shelter, and were lifted after 5:00 GMT. This was the first serious incident since NATO jets downed a stray Russian drone over Lithuania on September 15.