Lithuania prepares evacuation plans amid Russian threats, says Prime Minister

Lithuania's Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius stated that the country has developed evacuation plans in response to threats from Russia, while affirming that Lithuania will not surrender if attacked. In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight, Sinkevičius expressed that Lithuanians feel constantly threatened by Russia, particularly due to drone incursions into Lithuanian airspace. He emphasized that if Lithuania is attacked, "we will fight back... we will engage," but also mentioned the importance of planning for various scenarios, including the smooth evacuation of elderly citizens from urban areas to avoid traffic congestion. Lithuania, a member of NATO, shares a border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Sinkevičius noted that while threats are not daily occurrences, they are a genuine concern for the nation. He also commented on the need for a shift in the UK's defense mindset, highlighting Lithuania's proximity to the threat. This statement follows a recent incident where NATO fighter pilots shot down a drone that had entered Lithuania's airspace, which Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas indicated likely originated from Belarus, a Russian ally. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting praised the coordinated response of Lithuanian and Italian forces, reaffirming NATO's commitment to protect its airspace. Military drone incursions have increased across Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Lithuania's capital Vilnius experiencing a drone alert in May that disrupted flights and rail services. NATO jets have also been deployed to intercept stray Ukrainian drones that have crossed into Estonia and Latvia, with Ukraine attributing these incidents to Russian electronic warfare tactics. Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia joined NATO in 2004 and are bound by Article 5, which states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members.