26 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

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.

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

VSD head: Registry Center data leak one of the most painful cases

Lithuania’s prosecutor general has opened a pre-trial probe into leaked real-estate registry data from the state-run Registrų centras, while VSD chief Remigijus Bridikis said on May 26 it was still unclear whether Russia was behind the operation. Authorities say more than 600,000 registry extracts may have been exposed, but Bridikis said there were no signs of sabotage or an attack on critical infrastructure. Registrų centras chief Adrijus Jusas has resigned, and the agency is preparing a tool for people to check whether their personal data was compromised.

Why it matters

Hundreds of thousands of people may need to check property records and watch for identity theft or fraud. For the state, the leak raises fresh pressure to tighten access to the most sensitive registry data.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

After drone violations in Lithuania and other Baltic states – urgent meeting of Nausėda with EC President

In Vilnius on May 26, Gitanas Nausėda met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen together with the presidents of Latvia and Estonia, Edgar Rinkēvičs and Alar Karis. The agenda was the spate of drone incidents across the Baltics and how to tighten air surveillance and anti-drone defences on NATO’s eastern flank. The talks came after drone incursions and radar contacts were reported in Lithuania and neighbouring states, prompting a sharper regional response. Von der Leyen has already blamed Russia and Belarus for the activity, giving the meeting added political weight.

Why it matters

Tighter air-surveillance and anti-drone systems would directly affect people living near the borders, where alerts can send residents into shelters and disrupt daily life. More EU funding and equipment would give Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia faster tools to detect and stop low-flying drones.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Warning to drivers: weapons found on a Kaunas street, traffic limited — 'Skyda' deployed

Explosive ordnance was found on Chemijos Street in Kaunas at 8.43 a.m. on May 26, 2026, during excavation work, and the emergency plan known as Skyda was activated. Police said the items were uncovered inside the work zone, forcing special services to secure the area before the ordnance could be removed. Traffic was restored at 9.57 a.m. the same day, but the crew had to stop work and follow safety procedures first.

Why it matters

Chemijos Street is an important industrial link in Kaunas, so even brief restrictions can disrupt freight routes and local supply chains. Finds like this also add costs for contractors, who must stop work and clear the site only after bomb disposal specialists finish their checks.

sources:15min.lt

Crime

Two s assets found in Kaunas: weapons and 'Skyda' traffic restrictions announced

Two suspected wartime explosives were found at 8.43 a.m. on May 26, 2026, during excavation works on Chemijos Street in Kaunas. Police closed traffic on two nearby stretches, including the route to the Ateities Avenue roundabout and the junction with Abrikosų Street. The “Skyda” safety plan was activated while bomb disposal specialists were called in, and drivers were told to use alternate routes.

Why it matters

The closure affects a busy industrial and transit area of Kaunas, where even a short shutdown can push heavy traffic onto nearby streets. Drivers heading to nearby workplaces and warehouses now have to take detours and allow extra time.

sources:tv3.lt

Crime

LAT will rule on the murder case of acquitted police officer Darius Serpytys

Lithuania’s Supreme Court is due to rule on May 26, 2026 in the case of police officer Darius Šerpytis, who was acquitted over the fatal shooting of a woman during duty in Vilnius district. The trial court had earlier ended the case, and the Court of Appeal later upheld the acquittal on abuse-of-office charges while rejecting appeals from prosecutors and the victims. The top court is now deciding whether to leave that ruling intact or send the case back for a fresh hearing.

Why it matters

The ruling will shape how tightly Lithuania judges police use of force in life-threatening encounters. For the victim’s family, it will determine whether the case goes back for another round in court or ends at the Supreme Court.

sources:15min.lt delfi.lt

Economy

Median pay at the biggest employers rebounds in April

In April, Danske Bank’s Lithuanian branch returned to the top of the ranking of the biggest employers by median pay, with a gross median of 3,369 euros. The March leader, ESO, slipped back after taking first place a month earlier, leaving the top three reshuffled again. The latest Sodra data, published on May 26, show how quickly pay rankings move as bonuses, staffing and job mix change from month to month.

Why it matters

The ranking shows where skilled workers are paid the most among Lithuania’s largest employers. It gives jobseekers and rival firms a live benchmark in the fight for talent, especially in finance, energy and services.

sources:vz.lt

Europe

Summary

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.

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

Germany urges NATO to allocate 90 billion euros to Ukraine

Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul on May 22 called on NATO members to provide at least 90 billion euros for Ukraine in 2026 and tied the request to the EU’s already approved support package. He floated the idea of counting extra allied contributions toward the EU loan structure, which would earmark 60 billion euros for weapons and the rest for budget support. The push lands as the EU has already agreed to a 90 billion euro package for 2026-27, but the funding source and the role of frozen Russian assets remain contested.

Why it matters

Ukraine’s 2026 budget will depend on whether allies fold support into one financing channel or keep it fragmented across national pledges. The decision will shape how much money Kyiv has for weapons and day-to-day state spending as war costs keep squeezing public finances.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Russia's 'Orešnik' missile attacked Ukraine: what is this?

Russia fired 600 drones and 90 missiles at Ukraine in the night of May 23-24, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile called Oreshnik, and four people were killed in Kyiv. The Institute for the Study of War said one Oreshnik may have failed and fallen on Russian positions in occupied Donetsk region. If confirmed, that would be the fourth known use of the weapon in the war and the first known failure to reach its target.

Why it matters

Ukrainian civilians and city infrastructure remain in the firing line, with drones used alongside a missile Kyiv says can carry a nuclear warhead. For Russia, each costly failure dents the weapon’s deterrent value and keeps pressure on air defenses and diplomatic responses.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

From the Duma speaker — a new threat to Kyiv

Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia’s State Duma, said on May 24 that Kyiv’s leadership should be “stopped” as Russia launched a fresh missile and drone strike on the Ukrainian capital. LRT Radio said four people were killed in that attack and that Russian forces also fired an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik. The comments land as Moscow sharpens threats while Ukraine keeps hitting targets in Russia.

Why it matters

Kyiv’s civilians are caught between the rhetoric and the missiles, with the death toll from the May 24 strike still fresh. For Europe, it signals a Kremlin willing to pair battlefield escalation with public threats, raising the risk of further attacks on Ukrainian cities.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Baltic security priorities: how Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians differ in views

On May 26 in Vilnius, the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to discuss a string of drone incidents and gaps in regional air defence. The talks followed fresh alerts in Lithuania this week, when air-raid procedures were briefly activated near the eastern border over suspected drones. The next step is faster deployment of radars and anti-drone systems, as Baltic officials say current detection remains incomplete.

Why it matters

For residents in eastern border regions, this means more alerts, more shelter drills and heavier demands on local authorities to prepare protected spaces. Airports, rail links and border infrastructure now depend on faster detection, because even a short drone incident can trigger traffic stoppages and security checks.

sources:tv3.lt

Technology

Ferrari breaks traditions: presents the brand's first electric car designed by a former Apple design chief

On May 26, 2026, Ferrari confirmed the launch of its first fully electric car and said former Apple design chief Jony Ive had a hand in its design. The company had already shown the production-ready chassis and core components in October 2025, then revealed the cabin direction and the name Ferrari Luce in February 2026. The car sits at the centre of Ferrari's electrification push, which is supposed to make hybrid and fully electric models 60% of the range in 2026.

Why it matters

Luxury sports-car buyers are about to get Ferrari's first no-petrol model, so the brand must prove it can keep the cachet, feel and desirability intact. It also marks a new pricing and supply-chain phase for Ferrari, with the electric car becoming the clearest test of its 2026 electrification plan.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Moscow: Lavrov urged the US to evacuate diplomats from Kyiv in a call with Marco Rubio

On May 25, Moscow said Sergei Lavrov urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate American diplomats from Kyiv. The warning came as Russia told foreign nationals and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital, one day after strikes on Kyiv killed two people and wounded 87. Moscow also said it was preparing further attacks on what it called decision-making centres in the city.

Why it matters

Diplomats and their families in Kyiv now have to weigh whether to stay in a city that Moscow says it may hit again. The warning complicates US and allied diplomatic operations by turning basic movement in the capital into a security decision.

sources:15min.lt

World

Summary

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.

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

Despite truce, US attacked Iranian missile targets

The U.S. struck Iranian missile targets on May 26, 2026, despite a truce that had been announced only days earlier. LRT says the attack follows a wider U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iranian military infrastructure, after earlier strikes on Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The new round of attacks could push Tehran to further restrict access for the UN nuclear watchdog, which has been pressing for inspections of damaged sites.

Why it matters

Oil and energy markets are the immediate channel. Any breakdown in the truce raises the risk of wider strikes on Gulf infrastructure and shipping lanes, which would feed into fuel prices and supply security in Europe.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Health officials in Gaza Strip: five killed in Israeli airstrike

Gaza health officials said at least five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip on May 26, 2026. The latest deaths come as violence has continued despite the October 10 ceasefire, which Gaza health authorities say has left at least 890 Palestinians dead since it took effect. Israel says its strikes are aimed at armed groups and their infrastructure, and the enclave remains under intense military pressure.

Why it matters

For Gaza residents, it means movement and safety remain constrained even after the ceasefire. Each strike adds pressure on hospitals, rescue crews and families still living amid damaged districts and insecure supply routes.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Rubio: Washington could mediate negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 26 that Washington remains ready to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv, even though direct talks are effectively stalled. The comment lands as European capitals weigh who should represent Western interests in any future peace talks on Ukraine. It keeps the U.S. in play as a broker if both sides decide to return to negotiations.

Why it matters

Ukraine and its allies have to factor in the possibility of renewed diplomatic pressure at a time when the battlefield still sets the terms. If Washington steps in as broker, it could reshape the format of any talks and strengthen the U.S. role in ending the war.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Russia summoned Czech envoy over detained Orthodox priest with drugs

Czech police detained a Russian Orthodox cleric on Sunday on a highway between Karlovy Vary and Prague and found several jars of a suspicious white substance in his car. The Czech anti-drug unit said it acted after an anonymous tip about narcotics and psychotropic drugs being transported. Moscow then summoned the Czech envoy, while police said no charges have been filed yet.

Why it matters

The case adds a fresh diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Prague and could lead to further formal protests or retaliation. If investigators confirm drug trafficking, it may also spill into Russia’s church networks in Europe.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

US military strikes southern Iran

The U.S. military struck southern Iran on May 25, hitting missile launch sites and boats laying mines, U.S. Central Command said. Spokesman Tim Hawkins said the action was meant to protect American troops from Iranian threats while keeping restraint during the ceasefire. Washington gave no immediate tally of damage, and Tehran had not issued an official response.

Why it matters

The strikes raise pressure on an already fragile ceasefire and could derail talks on a wider deal with Tehran. Any Iranian response would put U.S. troops in the region and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz at risk.

sources:delfi.lt vz.lt

Politics

As talks on ending the war proceed, new US strikes in Iran

U.S. forces struck targets in southern Iran on May 26 while Iranian negotiators were in Doha for talks on a possible deal to end the war, Reuters reported. The strikes hit boats linked to mine-laying and missile launch sites, which Washington described as defensive action. Oil rose on the news as traders pared back hopes of a quick breakthrough and focused on the fate of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Why it matters

The main commercial risk is the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for energy shipments and shipping insurance. Any delay or collapse in the talks would feed into fuel costs, freight rates and broader European inflation.

sources:15min.lt