Lithuanian PM Promises Retaliation While Placing Evacuation Plans After Russian Drone Threats

Mindaugas Sinkevičius addressed BBC News, assuring that Lithuania has prepared evacuation procedures for its citizens despite the looming threat of Russian aggression.

"We feel constantly threatened,” the prime minister said, referencing multiple instances of unmanned aircraft entering Lithuanian airspace, including the recent incident that forced a temporary shut‑down of flights and rail traffic in Vilnius.

He added, "If an attack occurred, we will fight back… we will engage," while emphasizing the importance of evacuation scenarios such as efficiently moving elderly citizens from urban centres to safer zones to avoid traffic bottlenecks.

Lithuania, a NATO member that shares a 129‑kilometre border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, hosts a significant NATO presence. The alliance has deployed several thousand troops, with a German 5,000‑strong combat brigade confirmed to relocate to Lithuania by the end of 2027.

The Prime Minister cautioned that not all scenarios are publicly discussed, and highlighted the need for improved defense attitudes from the United Kingdom, citing Lithuania’s closer proximity to Russian influence.

Last week, NATO fighter pilots successfully intercepted a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from the direction of Belarus, an incident highlighted in a separate report by the defence ministry.

The country has also reported a series of ‘hybrid attacks’ over the past year, which it attributes to Belarus as a close Russian ally. One such incident involved objects resembling balloons that disrupted operations at the Vilnius airport.

Lithuania’s strategy includes integrated air defence measures and plans to manage civilian evacuation should a full‑scale conflict arise, underscoring the country’s commitment to NATO’s collective defence principles.

Source: BBC News (23 September 2026)