24 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Julija Stašelienė died on Saturday at 92, and Lithuania’s biathlon federation confirmed her death on Sunday. She won the Lithuanian cross-country title 12 times and in 1961 became the first Lithuanian woman to reach the Soviet master of sport standard, in Almaty. She later coached skiers from 1964 and biathletes from 1975, mentoring athletes who went on to win world junior and Olympic-level honours.

Lithuania’s military on Sunday continued searching in Panevėžys and Utena counties for a possible drone that entered the country’s airspace on Thursday. About 70% of the search area had been checked by today, with military police, riflemen’s union units and unmanned aircraft involved. At the Pabradė training area, troops spent a week testing new counter-drone and counter-balloon systems in the “CUAS February 26” exercise. The drills followed last summer’s incursions by two Russian Gerbera drones into Lithuanian airspace, one of them carrying explosives.

Three sizeable burglaries were recorded on Saturday in Mažeikiai, Panevėžys district and Vilnius, and police opened pre-trial investigations in all three cases. In Mažeikiai, thieves smashed a ground-floor window and stole about 20,000 euros and two laptops, while the total loss in one Vilnius burglary is still being calculated. A young woman is also being sought in central Kaunas.

Lithuania’s beach soccer team beat the Czechs to guarantee survival in Division A. President Gitanas Nausėda said after Russia’s mass attacks on Ukraine that terror remained the main weapon of war. In health news, a 32-year-old man drew attention after suffering two heart attacks after dismissing early warning signs as simple fatigue.

Laurynas Kasčiūnas said late on Friday that the leaked data from Lithuania’s state registries included information on intelligence officers. He also said he saw signs of Russian involvement in the theft and outlined potential targets.

sources: 15min.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt, lrt.lt

Loss: Lithuanian skiing and biathlon legend Julija Stašelienė has died

Julija Staseliene died on Saturday at the age of 92, and Lithuania's biathlon federation confirmed the news on Sunday. She won the Lithuanian cross-country title 12 times and became the first Lithuanian woman to meet the Soviet master of sport standard in 1961, in Almaty. After her racing career, she coached skiers from 1964 and biathletes from 1975, mentoring athletes who went on to win world junior and Olympic-level honours.

Why it matters

Her career is tied to the foundations of Lithuanian winter sport, because she helped build the first generations that moved from domestic competition to the international stage. Her death leaves a gap in the coaching lineage that fed later national teams and podium results.

sources:lrytas.lt

Crime

Three major thefts in Lithuania: items stolen as usual

Three burglaries hit Mažeikiai, Panevėžys district and Vilnius on Saturday, leaving cash, electronics, jewellery and household goods missing. In Mažeikiai, thieves smashed a ground-floor window and took a laptop bag containing about 20,000 euros and two laptops. Police have opened pre-trial investigations in all three cases, while the full loss in one Vilnius burglary is still being calculated.

Why it matters

Households and small businesses can lose cash and equipment that is hard to recover and, in some cases, hard to insure fully. The police response will also shape how quickly stolen goods can be traced if the same method was used in more than one break-in.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

The army: search for the drone that flew into Lithuanian territory on Thursday continues

The Lithuanian military said on Sunday, May 24, 2026, it was still searching for a possible drone that entered the country’s airspace on Thursday, with operations now focused on Panevėžys and Utena counties. The search is being run with military police, riflemen’s union units and unmanned aircraft after radar tracked two drone-like objects that later disappeared near Utena. By Sunday, about 70% of the search area had been checked, and residents are still being asked to report any possible crash site.

Why it matters

The search matters for residents in eastern Lithuania because the military still does not know whether the object crashed on Lithuanian soil or left the country again, which means forests, roads and isolated farms may keep getting checked. If the drone is found, officials can determine how it got into Lithuanian airspace and what extra border monitoring is needed.

sources:tv3.lt

Health

Man, 32, suffered two heart attacks: the signs he mistook for simple fatigue

Lithuanian media is highlighting the case of a 32-year-old man who suffered two heart attacks after brushing off the early warning signs as simple fatigue. Doctors have long warned that younger patients often miss symptoms such as shortness of breath, weakness, cold sweats and chest pressure, or mistake them for stress and overwork. In people this young, the usual triggers include smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and family history, while delays in seeking help can make the damage worse and force urgent cardiac work-ups.

Why it matters

People under 40 are more likely to dismiss the warning signs, and that costs precious time when treatment is most effective. Delayed care can leave them with lasting heart damage, rhythm problems or repeat hospital stays, affecting families and employers alike.

sources:tv3.lt

Crime

Court will continue examining Kaunas CHP VAT fraud case in September

Kaunas District Court on May 24, 2026, pushed the Kaunas CHP VAT fraud case back to September after returning it in April to prosecutor Inesa Gulbiniene to fix defects in the indictment. The company itself is among the defendants, and the allegations centre on fake VAT invoices and sham transactions between August 2020 and March 2021. The delay means the case will sit idle for months while the prosecution corrects the file and the court prepares to resume hearings.

Why it matters

The case matters because it goes beyond one power plant and into VAT collection, invoice fraud and the state’s ability to recover losses if the charges stand. A months-long delay also pushes any ruling on liability and potential financial consequences further into the year.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Poligonas. A week of drone tests — how did Lithuania and NATO air defense systems perform?

Lithuanian troops tested new counter-drone and counter-balloon systems for a week at the Pabradė training area in exercises called CUAS February 26. The drill came after two Russian Gerbera drones entered Lithuania last summer, one carrying explosives, pushing the army and allies to examine how airspace surveillance and defence perform under realistic conditions. The next step is to decide which systems move toward wider deployment and where the remaining gaps are.

Why it matters

In a real incident, these systems affect how fast Lithuania can detect a drone and protect civilians near the border and critical infrastructure. The tests also shape whether the country buys cheaper, faster counter-drone tools alongside more expensive medium-range air defence.

sources:delfi.lt

Europe

Summary

Kyiv was hit overnight by one of Russia’s biggest recent air assaults, with Ukraine’s air force saying it shot down most of the 675 drones and 56 missiles launched. Apartment blocks, a shopping centre, an office building, a dormitory, a petrol station, garages and warehouses were damaged across the capital, where rescue crews were still clearing debris in the morning. At least four people were killed and more than 60 injured in the latest strike on the city.

The attack also inflicted a heavy cultural and educational toll in Kyiv, damaging a Chernobyl museum, churches, universities, a theatre and a monastery. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly mocked Vladimir Putin after the strike, responding to Moscow’s promise of revenge attacks on Ukraine. In one of the day’s starkest accounts of Russian war crimes, Ukrainian film-maker Alisa Kovalenko said a Russian officer raped her in captivity in Donbas in 2014 and told her she should be grateful she was not killed.

Kovalenko said she stayed silent for nearly two years before Russia’s full-scale invasion pushed her to gather other women’s testimonies for her film Traces. She said the film documents not isolated abuse but repeated sexual violence and torture linked to Russian forces in occupied areas and detention sites.

In sport, Oleksandr Usyk beat Rico Verhoeven in Riyadh yesterday by technical stoppage in the final seconds of the 11th round. Verhoeven had led on the judges’ cards for much of the fight, and the referee’s intervention immediately triggered controversy across Europe.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Russian strikes damaged the agency’s offices in Kyiv. Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas said stolen data from the Centre of Registers was likely the result of a Russian operation. Latvia is weighing a ban on bus travel to Belarus, and similar discussions are underway in Lithuania.

sources: tv3.lt, 15min.lt, delfi.lt, lrytas.lt, lrt.lt, vz.lt

Ukrainian director: a Russian soldier who raped me said I should be grateful I wasn't killed

Ukrainian film-maker Alisa Kovalenko told LRT that a Russian officer raped her in captivity in Donbas in 2014 and said she should be thankful she was not killed. She said she stayed silent for nearly two years before Russia’s full-scale invasion pushed her to gather other women’s testimonies for her film Traces. Kovalenko says the film captures not isolated episodes but repeated sexual violence and torture she links to Russian forces in occupied areas and detention sites.

Why it matters

Kovalenko’s testimony matters because public accounts can make it easier for other survivors of wartime sexual violence to seek help and give evidence. The film and her statements may also feed investigations into war crimes, where sexual violence is treated as a distinct offence.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

TV3 News: Bloody attack in Kyiv; gunfire near the White House

Overnight on May 24, 2026, Russian forces struck Kyiv with missiles and drones, killing at least four people and setting off fires across several districts. In Washington, gunfire broke out near a White House security checkpoint as an armed man approached the complex, and the Secret Service shot and subdued him. In Kyiv, rescuers were still working through the rubble by morning. In Washington, authorities began piecing together how the suspect got so close to one of the most protected sites in the U.S.

Why it matters

Kyiv residents are once again paying the price for strikes that kill people in their homes and disrupt rescue work in the city center and residential districts. In Washington, the incident raises fresh questions about the security perimeter around the White House and whether screening procedures need to be tightened further.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Russian missiles hit Kyiv: destruction of Chernobyl museum, churches, universities, theatre and monastery

On May 24, 2026, a Russian missile and drone barrage hit Kyiv, damaging apartment blocks, a shopping centre, an office building, a dormitory, a petrol station, garages and several warehouses. Ukraine's air force said it shot down most of the 675 drones and 56 missiles launched in the overnight attack. The strike also left a heavy cultural and educational toll, with damage reported at a Chernobyl museum, churches, universities, a theatre and a monastery in the capital.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, the damage goes beyond housing. When museums, universities and places of worship are hit, repair costs rise and the city loses spaces that support study, culture and daily life.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

A terrible night in Kyiv as Russians ravaged the city

Russia launched a mass air assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on May 23-24, triggering explosions across the capital and drawing heavy air-defence fire. Ukrainian officials said multiple targets were hit, with fires reported and damage spread across residential areas and infrastructure. Rescue crews spent the morning clearing debris while authorities assessed the toll and searched for possible casualties.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, it means another night in shelters and fresh strain on power, water and transport systems. Repeated strikes force Ukraine to divert more money and manpower into air defence, repairs and civilian protection.

sources:delfi.lt

Sports

Unbelievable fight: Usyk, trailing to Verhoeven, wins in the final seconds of the 11th round after controversial referee stoppage

Oleksandr Usyk beat Rico Verhoeven in Riyadh on May 23, 2026, after the referee stopped the fight in the final seconds of the 11th round. Verhoeven had been ahead on the cards for much of the bout before Usyk turned it around late. The result gives Usyk another marquee win in heavyweight boxing and settles one of the year’s biggest crossover fights.

Why it matters

Usyk’s win tightens his grip on the heavyweight division and keeps him at the centre of the title picture. For Verhoeven, it means a near-full fight lead was wiped out on one late stoppage, leaving immediate questions over a rematch.

sources:tv3.lt

World

Summary

Kyiv and surrounding areas were hit by a Russian missile and drone attack on Sunday morning that killed four people and injured more than 60. Kyiv region governor Mykola Kalashnyk said the assault used attack drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, and rescue crews were still working after dawn at damaged homes.

U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks were still deadlocked on Sunday over the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran rejected Washington’s demand that the waterway be reopened as a condition of any deal. Donald Trump said the agreement was largely negotiated, but Iranian officials said the nuclear file and the strait were still outside the scope of the opening talks. The current draft would extend the ceasefire for 60 days and restore shipping and oil sales, but a final text has yet to be sealed.

A blast derailed a train near Quetta in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 70. Pakistan’s rail ministry said the engine and three coaches came off the tracks, while two carriages overturned and caught fire. A separatist group claimed the attack, and security forces sealed off the area as rescue teams worked through the wreckage.

In China’s Shanxi province, at least 82 people were killed in a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine, and rescuers were still searching for two missing workers. Flooded sections of the shaft slowed an operation involving hundreds of rescuers and medics, while Xi Jinping ordered a full investigation. Near the White House, a gunman opened fire at a security checkpoint on May 23 and was shot dead by Secret Service officers after they returned fire, with investigators still trying to establish his motive. Pyongyang has also put Kim Ju Ae back at the centre of North Korea’s power display over the past 48 hours by showing her beside Kim Jong Un at a military-linked public event.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Donald Trump backs scrapping any Iran nuclear deal and wants to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear threat. Tourists were killed in an attack in a South African national park. China launched three astronauts to its space station on the Shenzhou-23 mission.

sources: tv3.lt, delfi.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt

War in Ukraine: brutal Russian missile and drone attack kills 4, over 60 injured

Four people were killed and more than 60 injured in a Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv and surrounding areas on Sunday morning, Ukrainian officials said. Kyiv region governor Mykola Kalashnyk said the assault involved attack drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, after the U.S. embassy in Ukraine warned a day earlier of a possible large-scale air attack. Officials said homes were hit and rescue crews were still working after dawn as the casualty count was updated.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, it means another night in shelters and fresh strain on air defences that must deal with multiple incoming threats at once. The attacks also damage residential areas, slow rescue work and add to the burden on hospitals treating the wounded.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Iran rejected one of the main US demands in ceasefire talks

On May 24, 2026, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks still hinged on the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran rejected Washington’s demand that the waterway be reopened as a condition of the deal. Donald Trump said the agreement was largely negotiated, but Iranian officials said the nuclear file and the strait were still outside the scope of the opening talks. The current draft would extend the ceasefire for 60 days and restore shipping and oil sales, but a final text has yet to be sealed.

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz carries a large share of global oil flows, so any change in its status hits shipping, insurance and energy prices far beyond the region. If the talks fail, markets will have to price in a renewed risk of strikes and disrupted Gulf supply.

sources:delfi.lt

Crime

Train derailed by blast in Pakistan province, 30 killed

A blast derailed a train near Quetta in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on May 24, 2026, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 70, according to local officials. Pakistan’s rail ministry said the engine and three coaches came off the tracks, while two carriages overturned and caught fire. A separatist group claimed the attack, and security forces sealed off the area as rescue teams worked through the wreckage.

Why it matters

For residents of Balochistan, the attack adds fresh risk to rail travel on a network that links remote communities with Quetta and other major hubs. It is likely to trigger tighter checks and heavier security along key stretches of track.

sources:lrytas.lt tv3.lt delfi.lt

Environment

After 82 lives lost in a mining explosion in China, rescuers search for the missing

A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in China's Shanxi province on Friday evening killed at least 82 people, while rescuers were still searching on Sunday for two workers listed as missing. Local officials said hundreds of rescuers and medics were deployed, but flooded sections of the shaft were slowing operations. President Xi Jinping has ordered a full investigation and accountability for those responsible.

Why it matters

Workers across China’s coal sector face immediate scrutiny as authorities move to crack down on illegal mining, falsified safety data and opaque subcontracting. Shanxi is one of the country’s key coal-producing regions, so tighter enforcement could ripple through output and employment across the industry.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Daughter vs sister: Kim Jong Un's succession fight

North Korean state media put Kim Ju Ae back at the center of power in Pyongyang over the past 48 hours, showing her alongside Kim Jong Un at a public event tied to the military. Seoul's spy agency has already said she is fair to view as his heir, after earlier appearances that included driving a tank in March and standing in prominent positions at major military displays. Kim Yo Jong remains the family's most visible political operator, which means the succession picture is no longer just about one daughter, but about how power would be managed inside the ruling clan.

Why it matters

For North Korea's elite, the repeated appearances tell officers and party cadres where future loyalty should flow. If the heir is fixed, regional security planning will have to account for another generation of Kim family rule and a fresh internal power balance in Pyongyang.

sources:tv3.lt

Crime

Reports of gunshots heard near the White House

A man opened fire near a White House security checkpoint on May 23, 2026, and Secret Service officers shot him dead after returning fire. U.S. officials said the shooting happened at an access point close to the presidential residence, forcing an immediate security response around the complex. Investigators are now trying to determine the motive and whether the suspect was aiming at the White House or at officers.

Why it matters

The shooting tightens security around the U.S. president’s residence, which means more checks and restrictions for people moving through the White House area. It also forces federal protection services to review procedures at one of Washington’s most sensitive sites.

sources:delfi.lt lrt.lt