Vilnius prepares evacuation routes in case of military threat or crisis

Lithuania's capital has an updated evacuation plan ready in case of a major military threat or other serious crisis, Polish Radio reported on Wednesday, September 16, citing a city official.

Žygimantas Solovjovas, head of Vilnius's Civil Protection Department, said the exact routes and timing used would depend on the location and scale of any threat. One planned direction out of the capital leads to Poland, while other routes head north and west across Lithuanian territory. The updated version of the plan was presented to the public roughly a year ago.

Solovjovas stressed that authorities intend to manage any departure in a coordinated way rather than allow a chaotic exodus. He also cautioned that residents should leave the city before danger becomes imminent — once an attack is actually underway, people should seek shelter rather than attempt to flee along evacuation routes.

Poland readying a reception corridor

In Poland's northeastern Podlaskie region, local authorities are preparing a possible transit corridor for people evacuating from Lithuania and other Baltic states during a military crisis. Several municipalities across the region are involved in the preparations, aimed at ensuring Poland could receive evacuees and organize their onward movement. Officials emphasized that this reflects contingency planning for an emergency, not an actual evacuation order.

The plan predates this week's incident, in which a drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on Tuesday, September 15, and was shot down by a NATO fighter jet. Lithuania's defense ministry confirmed explosives were found aboard the drone, and the president identified it as a Russian-used "Gerbera"-type drone, likely intended for Ukraine but which had strayed off course.