Lithuania announces the opening of the first section of barriers near the border with Belarus

Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas announces the opening of the first section of the fence in the border area.

Delfi reported on this.

According to the official, the first such site will be opened at the end of August near Belarus, and in September, permanent fortifications will be built in two other locations.

The minister said at a press conference on Monday that there would be 27 such sites in total. He noted that “they will be created almost every week.”

According to him, various types of barriers will be set up in these areas, including dragon’s teeth and anti-tank hedgehogs and other concrete barriers that will make it impossible to move vehicles if necessary.

Similar barriers are planned for the border with Belarus and Russia.

In particular, permanent powerful fortifications will be built in two areas: near the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation and near Belarus.

Also, in the near future, backup barriers will be installed on Lithuanian national roads and on the approaches to bridges, said Agnė Vaiciukevičiūtė, Deputy Minister of Communications and Transport.

In addition, 9 bridges will be equipped with special engineering structures for the possible attachment of explosive devices, which, in the event of an enemy advance, should be detonated to destroy the structures. This is planned to be done by December 31, 2025.

Also, by the end of 2027, tree alleys will be arranged on road sections selected by the army. In addition, to strengthen the protection of Lithuania’s border with Belarus and Russia, about 280 km of reclamation ditches are planned to be restored in the southwestern part of the country.

This year, no more than €3 million will be allocated from the budget of the Ministry of Defense to implement the measures. Starting in 2025, the Lithuanian Defense Fund will be used for these activities.

As previously reported, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense is executing comprehensive reinforcement of a number of border sections together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.