Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has stated that evacuation plans have been developed in response to the growing threat posed by Russia, and that Lithuanians will not give up, reports the BBC.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Sinkevičius said that Lithuanians constantly feel the threat posed by Russia, partly because drones regularly enter the country’s airspace. He stated that if Lithuania were attacked, it would fight back. At the same time, plans have been prepared for various scenarios; he cited the evacuation plan for the elderly as an example—designed to move them out of major cities smoothly and without causing traffic jams.
Lithuania, a NATO member state, shares a border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Sinkevičius told the BBC that a range of scenarios is being considered, though not all are widely discussed in public. He emphasized that Lithuanians face very real threats—not necessarily every day, but threats that have nonetheless become a reality. He noted that Great Britain also needs to shift its mindset regarding its approach to defense issues, though he added that
Lithuania is closer to the border and closer to the threat.
Just a week ago, NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that had entered Lithuanian airspace. Although the drone’s origin has not yet been confirmed, Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas stated that it came from the direction of Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that, thanks to the swift and professional actions of Lithuanian and Italian forces, NATO has once again demonstrated its ability to protect its airspace.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, airspace violations in Europe have become increasingly frequent. Residents of the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, headed to shelters in May when an air raid siren was sounded, and NATO fighter jets have been scrambled several times this year across the Baltic states to intercept drones that had strayed off course.
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