NATO fighter jets under the Baltic Air Policing mission intercepted and destroyed a suspected Russian Geran-2 drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on September 15, 2026, marking the first such shootdown over that member state and following similar intercepts in Latvia in June and Romania in August. These incidents stem from intensified Russian long-range strikes on Ukraine combined with electronic warfare that diverts drones across borders, prompting NATO allies to authorize engagements against threats in allied airspace. Heightened patrols, reinforced air defenses along the eastern flank, and alliance statements linking the incursions to Moscow’s actions sustain elevated risks of additional intercepts through the end of 2026, though confirmation of attribution and timing depends on official reporting consensus.