Lithuania prepares evacuation plans amid Russian threats

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mintautas Sinkevičius has announced that the country is preparing for various security scenarios in response to ongoing threats from Russia. He stated that while Lithuania has developed evacuation plans—including the organized removal of elderly citizens from urban centers to prevent traffic congestion—the nation will not surrender and will engage in combat if attacked.

Sinkevičius highlighted a sense of constant threat among the population, citing recent airspace violations by drones and hybrid warfare incidents. Specifically, flight operations at Vilnius Airport were recently disrupted following a hybrid attack attributed to Belarus involving objects resembling balloons.

The Prime Minister also called for a change in mindset among Western allies, particularly the United Kingdom, noting that frontline states experience these threats as a daily reality. To bolster regional security, Germany is working toward the permanent stationing of a 5,000-soldier brigade in Lithuania by 2027, reinforcing the collective defense framework of NATO.