Lithuania, in Cooperation With Poland, Will Prepare Plan to Evacuate the Population Across the Border in Event of War

Lithuania, in cooperation with Poland, will develop a plan to evacuate part of the population of the Baltic states across the Polish-Lithuanian border in the event of war.

This was announced by Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC), as quoted by Delfi.

The plan will provide for the evacuation of residents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia if necessary.

Currently, Lithuanian and Polish officials are assessing evacuation procedures, logistics, and infrastructure capabilities. Once the two countries reach an agreement, the plan will be finalized based on the identified shortcomings.

Vitkauskas noted that border controls may be introduced in the event of a war threat at the border. This is necessary, in particular, to ensure mobilization and to prevent people in key positions from leaving the country.

At the same time, a significant flow of evacuees could form near the border. Therefore, while preparing the plan, transportation flows, transport links, and the condition of infrastructure will be assessed, and procedures will be established for managing the flow of people departing and arriving.

Separately, plans are in place to assess the need to reinforce bridges and other infrastructure facilities. The Suwałki Gap, which is of military and logistical importance, plays a key role in this process.

On Friday, September 25, mobilization exercises began in Lithuania, during which, among other things, procedures for evacuating people across the border with Poland will be tested, according to Centrum Europy.

Approximately 3,000 officials, officers, representatives of institutions, local government bodies, companies, and nongovernmental organizations, as well as about 1,000 volunteers, are participating in the exercises.

About 20 representatives from various Polish institutions will also arrive in Lithuania. After the exercises conclude, Lithuania and Poland will compile a list of identified shortcomings that need to be addressed. Lithuania already has an internal evacuation plan in place.

The exercises will last until October 2. They also include scenarios involving cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage, disruptions to energy and communications, as well as threats to critical infrastructure.

Practical evacuation drills will take place on Saturday in ten local governmental bodies, especially in Vilnius and regions bordering Belarus.