Lithuanian authorities have begun developing a plan for mass evacuation of the population in the event of a Russian invasion.
The plan is being developed jointly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Communications and the National Crisis Management Center.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs requested information from municipalities on the number of people expected to be evacuated, evacuation routes, transport, accommodation locations and the necessary funding.
“An agreement was reached with the ministries on their responsibilities and tasks in preparing for the evacuation of residents, and now specific data on capabilities and needs are expected from municipalities,” the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement.
At the end of June, the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia proposed that the European Union build a defensive line along the border with Russia and Belarus to protect European countries from the military threat and other “harmful actions” of Moscow.
As Reuters noted, the emergence of defense infrastructure on the eastern border, among other things, will address the problem of hybrid threats that include disinformation, cyber attacks, economic pressure and attempts to create a migration crisis.
Some European diplomats estimate that the construction of a defensive line along the 700 km border will require 2.5 billion euros, or $2.67 billion.
Earlier, Poland decided to spend 2.3 billion euros on defensive bunkers, trenches and ditches along the border with Russia and Belarus.
The Baltic countries also intended to build more than 1 thousand concrete bunkers, install mines and dragon teeth, and lay barbed wire on the eastern border as part of the overall “Baltic Defense Line”.
Meanwhile, the commander-in-chief of the British army called for preparations for war with Russia in the next 3 years.
According to General Roland Walker, war is not imminent, but the Army has "ample time to prepare and avoid conflict." He called the basis of preparations doubling the army’s combat capability by 2027 and tripling it by the end of the decade.
Among the main threats Britain will face in the coming years is an "angry Russia" that may want to take revenge on Western countries for supporting Ukraine, regardless of the conflict.
“It doesn't matter how it ends. I think Russia will probably come out of this war weaker, more objective - or absolutely - but still very dangerous and will seek some form of revenge for what we did in helping Ukraine,” the general said.
He also warned that China aims to establish control over Taiwan, while Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons.
