Lithuania rehearses Vilnius evacuation in drill against Russian invasion

Lithuania has launched a nationwide military exercise, called Vytis Dome 2026, that runs until 3 October and rehearses the country's response to a potential invasion from Russia and Belarus, according to the outlet Current Time. The drill is described as full-scale, covering invasion scenarios across the Baltic region rather than Lithuania alone. It also includes mobilisation exercises, testing how reservists and emergency services would be called up if an invasion began, Zerkalo reported.

The exercise includes training against Russian sabotage tactics and against a scenario in which covert operatives attempt to seize key sites before any larger invasion begins, reports said. No casualties or damage have been linked to the exercise itself, according to the reports reviewed.

Troops and emergency services are also practising the evacuation of the capital, Vilnius, as part of the drills. Organisers have not ruled out a scenario in which the whole city could be evacuated across the border into Poland, according to Current Time.

The exercise has been reported by Lithuanian outlets including 15min and Lrytas, and by the Russian-language outlets Current Time and Zerkalo, which cover Lithuania for Russian- and Belarusian-speaking audiences. In total, outlets in three countries have reported on the drills, describing the mobilisation and evacuation elements as part of the same full-scale exercise.

None of the reports gives a precise timetable for when the evacuation drills themselves are due to take place, how many troops or residents are taking part, or which routes would be used in a real evacuation to Poland. The reports reviewed do not include comment from Lithuania's defence ministry or other officials on the exercise's aims, scale or how the mobilisation drills are being carried out.