Lithuania is drilling in preparation for a possible military invasion scenario from Belarus.
The Northern European country is hosting its largest-ever “Vyio skliautas 2026,” running through October 3.
The drills include a detailed evacuation plan that will test responses to potential security threats, cyberattacks, power and communication blackouts, and closed transportation routes, as well as the need to receive allied forces, reports NEXTA TV.
The drill involves about 3,000 civil servants, officials, municipal representatives, businesses, and nongovernmental organizations, along with around 1,000 volunteers, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported.
Furthermore, Lithuanian officials are partnering with Polish leaders to map out how citizens of the Baltic states could evacuate to Poland amid the crisis, NEXTA TV reports.
A key proposed evacuation route includes the Suwalki Corridor, which is critical for both military logistics and civilian movement.
In the Lazdijai district, the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union will hold a parallel exercise focused on protecting critical infrastructure, supporting local authorities, and maintaining public order, ANews reports.
Days before this announcement, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti removed an opinion piece calling for military action against Lithuania.
The article was pulled after publication by a non-Kremlin media outlet, Meduza reported.
The column, entitled “Russia Is Facing Another Special Military Operation. It Will Be Very Short,” was written by Alexander Nosovich, editor-in-chief of the Kaliningrad-based pro-Russian outlet RuBaltic.ru, which reportedly is tied to Russia’s foreign intelligence services.
The NATO and Lithuanian flags fly over the summit venue (Image: Getty Images)
RIA Novosti said the article “does not align with the editorial team’s views, editorial policy, or the state policy of the Russian Federation.
KyivPost reported that the opinion piece appeared to be in response to the Lithuanian parliament’s decision to lift a constitutional
The article appeared to respond to Tuesday’s move by Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, to lift constitutional restrictions on stationing nuclear weapons and foreign military bases in the country.