Lithuania conducts national evacuation and mobilization drills

Lithuania is conducting large-scale national mobilization exercises, including the ‘Vyčio skliautas 2026’ drills, to test the country’s ability to evacuate citizens in the event of a deteriorating security situation.

In Lazdijai, drills at the local hippodrome are simulating the process of evacuating residents to Poland. This phase includes modeling registration, temporary housing, feeding, and providing essential humanitarian aid. The exercises involve approximately 150 institutions and 3,000 representatives from state, municipal, and non-governmental organizations.

In the Šilutė region, authorities are inviting residents, particularly older citizens, to participate in practical evacuation simulations. These drills test the entire chain of movement, from gathering at designated points to being transported and received by a host municipality. The scenarios are based on realistic threats, including cyberattacks, energy and communication disruptions, drone incidents, and sabotage of critical infrastructure.