Vilnius
A new DNA study of Napoleon Bonaparte's soldiers has revealed previously undocumented diseases, such as paratyphoid and relapsing fever, which affected the failure of the French troops in 1812. These infections, along with cold and hunger, led to the mass deaths of soldiers in the Russian Empire.
Lithuania will start shooting down smuggler balloons from Belarus that have repeatedly violated the country's airspace. This decision was made after Vilnius airport was closed four times due to such incidents.
Lithuania has temporarily closed the "Šalčininkai" and "Medininkai" border crossings with Belarus due to balloon flights. Vilnius International Airport has also suspended operations until morning.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated the need to consider restricting transit to Kaliningrad and a long-term closure of the border with Belarus. This is a response to a hybrid attack against Lithuania, which included the shutdown of airports due to balloons from Belarus.
On the evening of October 24, Lithuania closed two of its largest airports and border crossing points with Belarus. This happened due to air balloons flying from the Belarusian side.
Traffic at Vilnius Airport was temporarily suspended on October 21 due to dozens of balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from Belarus. Eight flights were diverted to Kaunas and Warsaw.
In recent months, at least ten European countries have reported drone incursions into their airspace, raising concerns and leading to increased security measures. Romania, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, and Belgium have witnessed these incidents, some of which are linked to Russia.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are developing emergency action plans that include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in the event of a Russian military buildup or attack. This is a response to Russia's massive military spending and its invasion of Ukraine.
Lithuania is lowering the level of physical protection for Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, transferring her protection to the Criminal Police Bureau. This decision, which came into force on October 1, was made based on a risk assessment and will allow for a review of security costs, which previously reached one million euros per year.
On Saturday evening, the airspace over Vilnius International Airport was restricted, likely due to spotted balloons. Flights are being diverted to alternate airfields in Kaunas, Riga, and Gdansk.
Russian special services allegedly planned a terrorist attack in Poland using cans of explosives disguised as canned corn. According to the Polish publication, a GRU courier was supposed to bury them in a cemetery near Łódź.
The Lithuanian prosecutor's office is demanding 4 years in prison for 18-year-old Ukrainian Danylo Bardadym in the case of arson at an Ikea store in Vilnius. He is accused of terrorism and possession of explosives, and the damage from the fire was estimated at 485,000 euros.
In Denmark, unidentified drones were spotted near military facilities overnight, following several drone incursions near airports and critical infrastructure. The Prime Minister called it "the most serious attack on Denmark's critical infrastructure to date."
Vilnius Airport suspended operations due to possible drone sightings, causing a delay for a LOT Polish Airlines flight. This is the second such incident today.
Lithuanian law enforcement agencies have uncovered a criminal group that planned terrorist attacks across Europe using postal services. The criminals sent homemade incendiary devices disguised as massage pillows and cosmetics.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that modern Russian missiles fly five times faster than sound. They can reach London or Madrid in a matter of minutes, which makes the idea of greater security in Western Europe erroneous.
Lithuania's designated Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has stated Vilnius' unwavering stance on sanctions against Belarus. This comes after Belarus released 52 political prisoners and the US lifted sanctions on Belavia airline, which sparked discussions about possible pressure from Washington.
In the suburbs of Vilnius on September 10, wagons with liquefied gas caught fire, causing explosions and smoke over the city. One person was injured, the causes of the incident are being investigated.
Polish President Karol Navrotskyi in Vilnius expressed disagreements with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda regarding Ukraine's integration into the EU. Navrotskyi holds a moderate position and previously blocked a bill on the rights of Ukrainian refugees.
Lithuania is expanding its air raid siren system to include alerts for dangerous drones entering the country's airspace. The new algorithm introduces red and yellow alert levels depending on the threat, informing the public via SMS, sirens, and other channels.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda's plane was unable to land in Vilnius. The reason was information about an unknown drone in the airspace, which led to a landing delay.
At the extraordinary meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council on September 1, the massive shelling of Ukrainian cities was condemned. Ukraine called on NATO to provide Patriot systems, long-range missiles, and invest in the defense industry.
More than 2,000 military personnel from five CSTO countries are taking part in exercises in Belarus. 450 units of equipment are involved, including aviation and drones.
Lithuania has installed concrete "Dragon's Teeth" barriers at unused border crossings with Russia and Belarus. This is part of the planned measures of the Baltic Defense Line, aimed at restricting the entry of military equipment.
Lithuania, a NATO member, has declared a no-fly zone near the capital Vilnius along the border with Belarus due to the threat from drones. This will allow the armed forces to respond to airspace violations.
Air traffic was temporarily suspended at Vilnius Airport due to the detection of a drone. It was later found that the drone belonged to a private security company.
Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania have banned or restricted real estate purchases by Russian citizens for national security reasons. Estonia, Norway, and the state of Texas are also considering similar measures.
On the night of July 29, an unknown unmanned aerial vehicle fell in Minsk after being affected by electronic warfare systems. Local residents report that the UAV crashed into a house, then fell onto a car and exploded.
Lithuanian police received dozens of reports about an unknown object in the air, likely a drone from Belarus, spotted near Vilnius. The version that it is a disoriented Ukrainian air defense drone is being considered, and searches are ongoing in central Lithuania.
The Head of the President's Office commented on the Russian shelling of Kyiv on July 28, stating that Putin responds with war to calls for negotiations. He also emphasized Russia's testing of NATO's reaction with drone flights in the airspace of the Baltic countries.