NATO scrambled fighter jets and the airport in Lithuania's capital Vilnius was shut down amid reports of drone incursions from Russian ally Belarus. The chaos unfolded as Russia and Belarus' armed forces participated in 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 the detection of drones believed to have entered from Belarusian airspace. This is a breaking story, with details still emerging.
Nuclear Drills Underway
Russia announced on Wednesday that it has brought its nuclear weapons units and formations "to the highest levels of combat readiness" during the military exercises. The Belarusian Defence Ministry stated on Monday that it was conducting joint nuclear weapons drills with Russia "to improve the readiness of the armed forces to use modern means of destruction, including special ammunition."
The drills are a significant escalation in tensions between NATO and Russia, with Lithuania being a key frontline state. The incursion of drones, presumably from Belarus, has heightened security concerns in the region.
