26 May 2026

Kaunas police imposed the Skyda bomb-disposal plan this morning after two suspected Second World War explosives were found during excavation work on Chemijos Street at 8.43am. Traffic was closed on stretches toward the Ateities Avenue roundabout and the Abrikosų Street junction, then restored at 9.57am after specialists secured the site.

Lithuania’s prosecutor general has opened a pre-trial investigation into leaked real-estate registry data from Registrų centras, with more than 600,000 extracts potentially exposed. State Security Department chief Remigijus Bridikis called it one of the most painful recent cases, said there were no signs of sabotage and did not rule out an information operation against Lithuania. Law enforcement has confirmed the data was stolen through Migration Department accounts, while Registrų centras chief Adrijus Jusas has resigned.

In Vilnius, President Gitanas Nausėda is meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Estonian President Alar Karis over drone violations in the Baltics and stronger air defence on NATO’s eastern flank. Nausėda has also called a State Defense Council meeting for Wednesday to review the security situation after the recent aerial incidents. Von der Leyen has already publicly blamed Russia and Belarus for the violations.

Fresh Sodra data show Danske Bank’s Lithuanian branch returned to first place among the country’s biggest employers by median pay in April, with gross median wages of 3,369 euros. A teenager suspected in a brutal murder in Vilnius’ Žvėrynas district has been remanded in custody, and Lithuania’s Supreme Court is due to rule today in the case of acquitted police officer Darius Šerpytis.

Lithuania handed a protest note to Russia over threats against Kyiv and foreign diplomats, and urged foreigners in the city to leave. Separately, bankruptcy proceedings were opened for “Garnis”, a company owned by Gintautas Paluckas, while thousands of people were warned after a Registry Centre data leak was exposed.

Germany has urged NATO members to allocate at least €90bn for Ukraine in 2026, with foreign minister Johann Wadephul proposing that part of the money be linked to the EU’s approved support framework. Berlin wants €60bn of that total earmarked for weapons, with the rest covering Ukraine’s budget needs.

Russia launched 600 drones and 90 missiles at Ukraine over the past day, including an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, and four people were killed in Kyiv. The Institute for the Study of War said one Oreshnik may have fallen in Russian-held Donetsk after failing to reach its target. Moscow said on Monday that Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate American diplomats from Kyiv. The warning came a day after strikes on the capital killed two people and wounded 87.

State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said over the weekend that Kyiv’s leadership should be “stopped” as Russia mounted another missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital. In Vilnius on Tuesday, the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to discuss drone incidents and gaps in regional air defence. After fresh alerts near Lithuania’s eastern border this week, Baltic officials said faster deployment of radars and anti-drone systems is now the immediate priority.

Ferrari on Tuesday confirmed the launch of its first fully electric car and said former Apple design chief Jony Ive helped shape the design. The Ferrari Luce is central to the carmaker’s electrification plan, under which hybrid and fully electric models are meant to make up 60% of the range in 2026. Poland has also recognised a same-sex marriage for the first time, marking a significant legal shift in family law.

NATO is accelerating its Baltic defense plan and preparing faster force deployments to the region. Poland has received initial U.S. backing to manufacture Patriot missiles, strengthening air defense on NATO’s eastern flank.

U.S. forces struck targets in southern Iran today, hitting missile launch sites and boats linked to mine-laying operations. U.S. Central Command said the action was meant to protect American troops from Iranian threats, even though a truce had been announced only days ago. Iranian negotiators were in Doha for talks on a possible deal to end the war as the strikes took place, and oil prices rose as traders refocused on risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The attack followed earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes on military and nuclear-linked sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, and it could push Tehran to further restrict U.N. inspectors seeking access to damaged facilities.

Iran said it had shot down a U.S. drone that entered its airspace. Donald Trump said Iran’s enriched uranium would be destroyed under any eventual agreement. Iran’s Supreme Leader said today that the region would no longer serve as a shield for outside powers, sharpening Tehran’s public response after the new strikes.

In central Gaza, at least five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike today. Gaza health officials say at least 890 Palestinians have been killed since the October 10 ceasefire took effect. Israel has also expanded ground operations in Lebanon.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that Washington remains ready to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv even though direct talks are effectively stalled. Russia summoned the Czech envoy after Czech police detained a Russian Orthodox cleric and found several jars of a suspicious white substance in his car. China said today it had launched artificial human embryos into space for microgravity research, describing it as a first-of-its-kind mission.

Iran carried out the execution of a 28-year-old woman. Human Rights Watch said the United Arab Emirates recruited Colombian mercenaries to fight in Sudan, while Israeli media reported an expansion of the army’s ground operations in Lebanon.