16 April 2026

The Seimas is voting today on whether to strip Saulius Skvernelis of parliamentary immunity in a criminal case over at least €51,000 in cash and alleged political favours linked to the State Plant Service. A fresh Baltic Research poll commissioned by ELTA shows trust in Skvernelis fell by 17 percentage points over the past month. The Democrats’ leader also addressed parliament in tears and repeated that Nemuno aušra cannot be part of the governing majority.

The Central Electoral Commission is revoking Giedrius Jeglinskas’ mandate today, with Vilija Targamadzė set to return to parliament. Lawmakers are also weighing the removal of caps on defence bond interest so households can be offered higher yields. Lithuania’s defence and security industry has been allocated tens of millions of euros over the past day, adding to order books for local producers.

Lithuania’s laser sector is pitching SYLOS 3 as one of the world’s most powerful laser systems, built around OPCPA technology. The project is tied to Vilnius University and the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, and companies see it as a route to higher-value exports and more defence-linked contracts. Biovela Group has bought the largest pig producer in the Baltics, while Sorainen said it has expanded to 28 partners and about 300 lawyers and tax specialists across the region.

Kaunas’ Stumbras factory is marking 120 years since its origins as a spirits warehouse. Artist Viltė Fuller was named to Forbes’ 2026 30 Under 30 Europe list in the Art & Culture category. In Palanga, the sixth Dream 2 Drive season has opened, with the winner earning a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup seat at the Aurum 1006 km race and a top prize valued at €70,000.

The Social Democrats postponed a decision on the ruling coalition and left it to the party’s new leadership. The party signalled it would not invite the conservatives or liberals into government and is considering other options.

Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa were hit by fresh Russian strikes that killed at least 14 people. A child was among the dead in Dnipro, and rescue crews were still searching damaged buildings in Kyiv and Dnipro on Thursday.

In Odesa, an overnight attack killed three people and wounded 16 more. Homes were damaged in the Black Sea port and thousands of residents lost power.

A Ukrainian army unit said it carried out more than 100 attacks in a day using ground robots and combat modules. The systems are also being used to evacuate wounded soldiers and move supplies after Ukraine’s first fully robotic ground assault in December.

Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday ended a Kremlin security meeting with the threat, “Sleep well!” On the previous day, he said more European politicians and officials could be added to Russia’s blacklist as the EU weighs new sanctions and the use of frozen Russian assets.

An Estonian reserve general warned that Russia could try to seize a Baltic Sea island within days to test NATO’s response. He said a limited operation would most likely target the port, communications links and air-defence assets, with the first hours decisive for reinforcements by sea and air.

EU and NATO leaders called for a faster increase in weapons production in Europe. The Netherlands will allocate €248 million for drone production with Ukraine, while Germany is considering sending mine-hunting ships to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States on Tuesday imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil export network and vessels linked to it. The measures target intermediaries, shipping arrangements and tankers used to move crude around existing restrictions into foreign markets.

In Ukraine, Russian overnight strikes killed civilians, including a child. In Odesa, a wave of drones and missiles overnight on Wednesday killed eight people and injured 16, hitting a residential district and port infrastructure. Rescuers pulled people from damaged buildings through the morning, and temporary shelter was opened for residents left homeless. Russia also dropped thousands of leaflets over Ukraine and, for the first time, directly targeted Donald Trump in the messaging.

In Washington, Democrats published documents to begin impeachment proceedings against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The dispute in Congress centres on an alleged order after a Caribbean strike to finish off two survivors on a suspected drug-smuggling boat.

In an Iran-linked war statement, each captured U.S. soldier was priced at a $1 billion exchange. An adviser to Ali Khamenei also threatened strikes on U.S. ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In Iran, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi suffered a heart attack and supporters said her condition was critical. In Australia, explosions triggered a major fire at an oil refinery.

The US threatened to resume strikes on Iran if Tehran rejects a peace proposal. An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed seven people and injured 33. Hezbollah said it would respect a ceasefire if Israel halts its attacks.