Lithuania evacuation plans are being prepared for a range of possible security scenarios as the NATO member faces what Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius described as a growing threat from Russia. Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight, Sinkevičius said Lithuania would not surrender if attacked and would fight back.
The Lithuanian prime minister said people in the country feel “constantly threatened” by Russia, partly because drones have entered Lithuanian airspace. He stressed that the threats were not necessarily occurring every day but had become a real part of the country’s security environment.
Lithuania Evacuation Plans Prepare for Russia Threat
Sinkevičius said Lithuania has developed Lithuania evacuation plans covering “a variety of scenarios”, although he indicated that not all of the preparations were being discussed publicly. One example he gave involved moving elderly residents out of cities in an organised way while attempting to prevent major traffic congestion.
“We’re thinking about a variety of scenarios, not all of them are being discussed very much publicly,” Sinkevičius told the BBC.
He added: “We face concrete threats, not on a daily basis, but we’re experiencing them and it’s a true reality for us.” The comments underline the extent to which Lithuanian authorities are preparing for different possibilities while the country remains a NATO member bordering Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave.
Lithuania Says It Will Fight Back if Attacked
The prime minister also made clear that Lithuania would respond militarily if its territory came under attack. He told Newsnight: “we will fight back… we will engage”.
Sinkevičius also argued that the United Kingdom needed a “shift in the mindset” regarding defence. At the same time, he acknowledged that Lithuania’s geographical position meant it faced a different level of immediate concern.
He said Lithuania was “closer to the border and closer to [the] threat”, highlighting the country’s position on NATO’s eastern flank. Lithuania shares a land border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and is also next to Belarus, a key Russian ally.
Russian Drones Raise Lithuania Airspace Concerns
The discussion about Lithuania evacuation plans comes shortly after NATO fighter pilots shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace. The origins of the drone have not been confirmed, but Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas told Newshour that it came from the direction of Belarus.
The incident prompted a statement from the UK’s Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who praised the response by Lithuanian and Italian forces. He said NATO had again demonstrated its readiness to protect its airspace and stressed that the alliance remained united in defending its territory.
Moscow did not comment on the incident.
Military drone incursions have become increasingly common in parts of Europe since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In May, residents in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, were also forced to take shelter after a drone alert was activated, temporarily affecting flights and rail services.
NATO Article 5 and Baltic Security
NATO aircraft have also been scrambled several times this year after stray Ukrainian drones crossed into the airspace of fellow Baltic members Estonia and Latvia. Ukraine has attributed such incidents to Russian electronic warfare technology, which it says can affect the flight paths of Ukrainian drones.
Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia joined NATO in 2004. Their membership includes the alliance’s Article 5 provision, which states that “an armed attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against all members”.
For Lithuania, the combination of its location, recent drone incidents and wider regional tensions has made civilian preparedness an important part of national security planning. The government’s Lithuania evacuation plans are intended to cover different scenarios, including the possibility of moving vulnerable residents away from urban areas while maintaining orderly transport.
Sinkevičius’ comments show that Lithuania is preparing for potential emergencies while publicly maintaining that any attack would be met with resistance. The country continues to rely on its NATO membership and the alliance’s collective defence commitment as it responds to the security challenges facing the Baltic region.