Fear of Putin attack: NATO country prepares mass evacuation

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is fuelling fears of attacks on other European states. Lithuania prepared for the worst.

Vilnius – The EU and NATO country Lithuania is taking precautions for a possible invasion by Russia. The Lithuanian government is working on a nationwide evacuation plan. As Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė has announced, this should be drawn up by the beginning of October 2024. This is reported by the Lithuanian public broadcaster Light rail citing the minister.

According to the report, the interior minister of the Baltic state is firmly convinced that her country needs a nationwide mass evacuation plan – and should be ready to implement it at any time. For the minister, protecting the civilian population is now more important than ever. Lithuania and the other states in the region are already exposed to cyberattacks, sabotage and disinformation campaigns, Bilotaitė said.

Lithuania seeks to join forces with the rest of the Baltic region

It is important to note that we are on the front line, the minister continued. With regard to civil protection, she also believes that international cooperation is essential. Relying solely on the national level is not enough. That is why she has decided to cooperate with the other Baltic states in this regard.

The countries are also committed to relying on funding from the European Union. The minister added: “We need to coordinate our efforts at regional and European level. It is costly, but it is important to pool our skills and receive support from the EU.”