NATO Scrambles Jets After Drone Explodes in Lithuanian Airspace, Raising Spillover Concerns

An unidentified object, believed to be a drone, entered Lithuanian airspace on October 18, exploding and damaging a civilian vehicle, prompting NATO fighter jets to scramble. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated the incident is the latest in a series of drone incursions along NATO's eastern flank, fueling concerns that Russia's war in Ukraine is spilling into NATO territory. Lithuania's Prime Minister also accused Russia of likely involvement in an attempted sabotage attack on Starlink equipment.