NATO scrambled fighter jets in Lithuania on Wednesday as the capital Vilnius's airport was shut down amid reports of drone incursions from Russian ally Belarus. The incident occurred as Russia and Belarus's armed forces are conducting joint nuclear weapons drills in Belarus, scheduled to run until Thursday.
Air Raid Alert and Airport Closure
The airport in Vilnius was closed and an air raid warning was issued following reports of drones entering Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. Fighter jets were quickly deployed to respond to the potential threat, though details on the number of drones or their exact location remain unclear.
Nuclear Drills Underway
Russia announced on Wednesday that it has brought its nuclear weapons units and formations "to the highest levels of combat readiness" as part of the ongoing military exercises. The Belarusian Defence Ministry stated on Monday that the drills aim "to improve the readiness of the armed forces to use modern means of destruction, including special ammunition."
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as information becomes available.
