Lithuanian authorities are drawing up plans for mass evacuations of civilians in case of an armed conflict, the LRT public broadcaster reported on July 25, citing the country's Interior Ministry.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine exacerbated fears of a potential open conflict between Moscow and NATO.
Bordering Russia's ally Belarus and the heavily armed Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Lithuania would be one of the first countries threatened by such a clash.
The Lithuanian Interior Ministry said last month that it wants municipalities to be able to relocate a quarter of the country's population of 2.9 million, LRT writes.
Priority would be given to families with young children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite also said the plans would include international transfers and that the matter has already been discussed with neighboring countries. The minister also added she intends to discuss the matter with the Klaipeda Port Authority.
In light of Russia's war against Ukraine, civil preparedness measures have been under review also in Latvia and Estonia.
Kateryna Hodunova
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