29 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Jevgenijus Suklinas has died at 41. The former canoeist, 2012 London Olympic silver medallist and Lithuanian MP entered parliament in 2024 after a decade in Visaginas politics. Lithuania’s election commission said a by-election will now be needed in the Nalsia North single-member constituency, which covers Visaginas and the Zarasai district, and must now set the timetable.

Lithuania’s defence establishment says the main threat from Russia is not a ground assault but drones and other airspace violations. Defence minister Kestutis Budrys said today that drone incidents are part of systemic threats. Authorities also issued guidance today on what people should do if they receive an air-raid warning during public events. Military exercise Freedom Shield 26-I has begun in Pabrade with about 2,900 troops, including units from the first German brigade.

Parliament’s National Security and Defence Committee is holding a closed session today over data stolen from the state-run Registru centras. Patria said it would expand armoured vehicle manufacturing in Lithuania with about 20 local companies in the supply chain. Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics in Vilnius bought shares in the US-based Thermo Fisher Scientific Powder for €1.5 billion last September, a deal that strengthens the Lithuanian unit’s weight inside the group.

Achema Group said last year’s revenue rose 11% to €1.1 billion. Lithuania’s Prison Service today resumed the search for a convict who failed to return to the Pravieniskes open colony and is checking his movements, contacts and possible routes. Kaunas police issued an urgent appeal today after a 10-year-old disappeared on the way home from school. Scrutiny is still growing over the alleged abuse of 140 Filipinos at two Lithuanian poultry farms.

Experts warned that the data stolen from Lithuania’s Centre of Registers pose a very high risk, saying the leaked information could be used for identity theft and other fraud. After the drone incident in Romania, Linas Linkevičius said rhetoric alone on Russian drones is not enough and called for a concrete response.

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

Tragically dies a member of the Lithuanian Seimas aged just 40 – urgent news for all residents

Seimas lost one of its younger members on May 28, when Jevgenijus Šuklinas died at 40. He was not only a lawmaker but also an Olympic canoeist, which made him a well-known figure beyond politics. His death leaves a vacancy in parliament that will have to be filled from the party list.

Why it matters

His death affects the Liberal movement’s strength in parliament, where even one seat can matter in committee votes and floor arithmetic. The vacancy will be filled from the party list, not by a new election, so the change will be felt quickly inside Seimas.

sources:tv3.lt

Economy

Lithuania's Thermo Fisher buys US company shares for €1.5 billion

Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics in Vilnius bought shares in the US-based Thermo Fisher Scientific Powder for €1.5 billion last September, LRT reported on May 29. The deal fits a broader group restructuring as the Lithuanian unit has been steadily expanding production and R&D capacity in Vilnius. It also raises the Baltic arm’s weight inside the global group, potentially giving it more influence over manufacturing, exports and future investment plans in Lithuania.

Why it matters

Thermo Fisher is one of Lithuania’s largest high-value employers and taxpayers, so capital decisions at the group level feed straight into jobs and revenues in the life-sciences sector. If more ownership and manufacturing decisions are concentrated in Vilnius, local suppliers, researchers and exporters could gain more business leverage.

sources:lrt.lt

Sports

People in sports doubted J. Suklina's death, asking: could it be fake?

LRT confirmed on the evening of May 28 that Jevgenijus Šuklinas, a former canoeist, Olympian and member of parliament, died at 41. He entered the Seimas in 2024 after a decade in Visaginas local politics and briefly served as acting mayor there in 2023. In London in 2012, he won silver in the men’s C-1 200 metres, before losing the medal in a doping case.

Why it matters

His death leaves a gap in Visaginas politics, where he had been one of the most visible local figures for more than a decade. In sport, it closes the story of one of Lithuania’s best-known canoeists, whose Olympic silver and later medal loss made him a prominent and complicated figure.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

Russia's attack model on Lithuania: promises to crush the occupiers with drones

On May 29, 2026, Lithuanian media is focusing on the military’s view that the main threat from Russia is not a ground assault but drones and other airspace violations. The assessment is tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine and to cases where Russian drones have drifted into Lithuanian airspace in recent years. Defence officials are now pressing for faster air-defence and warning systems so the state can react within minutes if a dangerous drone crosses the border.

Why it matters

For civilians near the border and in major cities, the immediate risk is no longer tanks but a drone flying over homes or critical infrastructure. That pushes the state to spend more on surveillance, radar coverage and interception tools built for minute-by-minute response.

sources:tv3.lt

Crime

After a long break, search for a missing prisoner resumes – not returned to Pravieniškės

Lithuania’s Prison Service reopened the search on May 29 for a convict who failed to return to the Pravieniškės open colony on May 28. Officers are checking his last known movements, contacts and possible routes, and the search extends beyond the prison grounds into nearby districts. If he is not found, he could face further disciplinary action and criminal consequences for failing to return to custody.

Why it matters

A convict who does not return can remain at large in the community, which directly affects public safety around Pravieniškės and ties up police resources. Cases like this also put the prison system’s supervision of open-colony inmates under scrutiny.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

VRK: following Šuklinas' death early parliamentary elections will be held in Nalšia's northern constituency

The election commission said on Thursday, May 28, 2026, that by-elections will have to be held in the Nalšia North single-member district after the death of lawmaker Jevgenijus Šuklinas. Šuklinas had been elected in the constituency, which covers voters in Visaginas and the Zarasai district, leaving his seat in parliament vacant. The VRK now has to set the timetable and organize a fresh vote for that one mandate.

Why it matters

Voters in the Nalšia North constituency temporarily lose their directly elected voice in parliament until a fresh vote is held. How quickly representation returns now depends on the election commission’s timetable and the speed of the by-election process.

sources:lrt.lt

Europe

Summary

Volgograd was hit by an overnight drone strike that set fire to Lukoil’s refinery, one of the main fuel producers in southwest Russia. Any repair work or safety checks that slow the plant would add strain to a Russian refining system already hit repeatedly in recent months.

Kyiv said on Friday that Russia was laying the groundwork for a new round of strikes, while Belarus reported 116 attempts by Ukrainian drones to cross its border over the past week. Analysts say Moscow may be preparing to use Belarusian territory to target logistics routes in western and northwestern Ukraine. In Romania, a drone crash sparked a fire and injured two people. Ukraine also urged its UN partners to increase support for its air defence tenfold.

At Pabrade training ground, Germany’s 45th Armored Brigade Lithuania began its first Freedom Shield 26-I exercise today. The drill involves 2,900 troops and about 800 vehicles from seven NATO countries, using drones, mortars, artillery, attack helicopters, tanks and armoured infantry vehicles. Estonia’s foreign intelligence chief Kaupo Rosin said this week that Moscow is deliberately keeping the Baltic region guessing and is leaning more on political proxies and public messaging.

Poland on Friday extended its reduced diesel excise duty until June 15, keeping fuel tax relief in place through the start of the summer travel season. In Brandenburg near Berlin, a major forest fire is now contained, but officials are still watching for flare-ups near nearby villages.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia could launch a massive strike on Ukraine within the next two nights, as air-raid warnings were issued over a cruise missile threat. At the same time, Politico reported that Ukraine had blocked Russia’s land corridor to Crimea.

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

War in Ukraine. Nervous night in Volgograd after drone attack hits oil refinery

A drone strike set fire to Lukoil's Volgograd refinery overnight on May 29, 2026, according to regional authorities. The plant is one of the key fuel producers in Russia's southwest, so any outage matters beyond the city itself. If repairs or safety checks slow operations, it would add to pressure on Russia's refining system, which has already been hit repeatedly in recent months.

Why it matters

Fuel supply in southern Russia depends on plants like Volgograd, so any disruption can affect local logistics and retail stocks. The longer firefighting and safety inspections drag on, the more likely shipments of refined products will be delayed across the region.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

German brigade 'Lithuania' in Pabradė begins exercise 'Freedom Shield 26-I'

The Lithuanian army said on May 29, 2026, that Germany’s 45th Armored Brigade Lithuania has started its first exercise, Freedom Shield 26-I, at the Pabradė training ground. The drill brings together 2,900 troops and about 800 vehicles from seven NATO countries, with drones, mortars, artillery, attack helicopters, tanks and armored infantry vehicles in use. The army says the exercise marks a new readiness phase for the brigade and that similar drills in Lithuania will be held twice a year.

Why it matters

The exercise tests how fast a multinational combat unit can be assembled in Lithuania and whether different NATO systems can be run together under pressure. That matters for the eastern flank because the German brigade is meant to become a permanent deterrent presence in the country.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Russia preparing a new scenario? Ukraine records dangerous signals

On May 29, 2026, Kyiv said Russia was laying the groundwork for a new round of strikes, as Belarus reported 116 attempts by Ukrainian drones to cross its border over the past week. Analysts cited by LRT and international agencies say Moscow may be preparing to use Belarusian territory to hit logistics routes in western and northwestern Ukraine with drones. That would widen the air war and raise pressure on supply lines running through Poland and Slovakia.

Why it matters

Ukraine’s western supply corridors are central to moving weapons, fuel and other stocks toward the front. If Russia does shift drone attacks onto Belarusian soil, air defences would have to cover a wider area and infrastructure risk would rise along NATO’s eastern flank.

sources:tv3.lt

Environment

Nearby Lithuania — massive forest fire: evacuations underway, helicopters deployed

A major forest fire broke out in Brandenburg, near Berlin, over the past 24 hours, with helicopters and fire crews from several areas deployed to contain it. Residents were told to prepare to evacuate when flames came within 100 metres of a settlement, as heat and drought kept the fire risk elevated across the region. The blaze is now contained, but officials are still watching for flare-ups and threats to nearby villages.

Why it matters

People living near Berlin had to get ready to leave at short notice, and fires like this can quickly shut roads and disrupt local travel. Dry forest areas near Lithuania’s borders also raise the risk for frontier communities, because flames can spread fast and smoke can worsen air quality.

sources:lrytas.lt 15min.lt

Politics

Warned about new Putin game with Baltic states: 'Yes, no, shoot, no shoot'

Estonia’s foreign intelligence chief Kaupo Rosin said on May 27, 2026, that Moscow is deliberately keeping the Baltic region guessing about its next move. He said the recent drop in airspace violations and suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea came after NATO began responding more in step. Rosin added that Russia may lean on political proxies and public messaging as much as on direct military pressure.

Why it matters

Baltic air defence, ports and undersea infrastructure are now in constant alert mode, forcing allies to keep more forces ready and react faster to incidents. Every misstep raises the bill for defence, industry and shipping across the region.

sources:lrytas.lt

Economy

Poland extends fuel tax relief until mid-June

Poland on May 29 extended its reduced diesel excise duty until June 15, keeping the relief in place through the start of the summer travel period. The cut applies to both regular diesel and marked fuel used in farming and fishing, and officials had said the lost excise revenue would be offset by higher VAT intake. The move leaves the next decision for after June 15, when the government must decide whether to roll the relief over again.

Why it matters

Drivers, hauliers and farmers in Poland will keep paying less tax at the pump for another two weeks. That can ease price pressure in border regions, where some Lithuanian motorists also buy fuel across the frontier.

sources:lrt.lt

World

Summary

Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed or wounded an average of 11 children a day over the past week, according to UN data published today. Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israeli troops had crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and the military confirmed a ground operation in Dibbine near Marjayoun.

Direct military talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials opened in Washington today, even as strikes continued to hit residential areas and civilian roads in southern Lebanon. The UN has called for tighter protection of civilian sites as Lebanon’s health system faces a steady flow of casualties.

In Ukraine, after a warning from the US embassy in Kyiv, Russia launched about 600 drones and 90 missiles in one night, including Oreshnik missiles. The attack killed at least four people in Kyiv and wounded more than 80, while Ukrainian and US analysts later said two Oreshnik missiles may have been used in a single strike.

A new UN annual report has placed Russian and Israeli security forces on its blacklist for conflict-related sexual violence for the first time. Investigators verified 310 such cases this year in Russia and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, and 13 cases involving Palestinians detained by Israeli forces.

Guatemala and the United States have agreed to carry out joint strike operations against drug traffickers on Guatemalan soil. The deal gives US personnel a direct operational role alongside Guatemalan forces in border zones and jungle corridors.

FIFA is already turning the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium into a broader entertainment event. Organisers said the halftime show will feature Madonna, Shakira and BTS, while Gianni Infantino said Times Square will host events during the final weekend.

China completed another crewed mission as three taikonauts returned safely to Earth after seven months in orbit. Late developments were also marked by Iran’s message to Washington: Tehran said concessions are secured by missiles, not negotiations.

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

Daily fatalities or injuries of 11 children in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

United Nations data show that, over the past week, an average of 11 children a day were killed or wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, according to a report published on May 29. The toll has been heaviest in southern Lebanon, where strikes have hit residential areas and roads used by civilians. The UN has called for tighter protection of civilian sites as Lebanon’s health system struggles with a steady flow of casualties.

Why it matters

Families in southern Lebanon are being forced to weigh daily travel to work, school and clinics against the risk of strikes on civilian routes. The rising number of injured children also stretches hospitals that already lack the capacity for long-term paediatric trauma care.

sources:delfi.lt lrt.lt

Politics

Netanyahu: Israeli forces crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon

Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 29 that Israeli troops had crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon, while the army reported a ground operation in the village of Dibbine near Marjayoun. The move came after days of heavier strikes and clashes in an area where the river has long served as Israel’s de facto line of control. Direct military talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials began in Washington the same day, putting fresh pressure on fragile ceasefire efforts.

Why it matters

For residents of southern Lebanon, the advance raises the odds of fresh displacement and more damage to villages around Marjayoun and Nabatieh. It also makes any Washington deal harder, because every new ground move shifts the bargaining line on border control and security arrangements.

sources:lrt.lt 15min.lt

Politics

US responded to Russian strikes with Oreshniki missiles

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv warned on May 24 of a possible large Russian strike within 24 hours. That night, Russia fired about 600 drones and 90 missiles, including Oreshnik, in one of the biggest attacks of the war. At least four people were killed in Kyiv and more than 80 were wounded, while Ukrainian and U.S. analysts later said Russia may have launched two Oreshnik missiles in one attack, with one reportedly falling on Russian territory.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, the warning means another cycle of air-raid alerts and sheltering, because the strikes hit apartment blocks, schools and shops, not only military targets. For NATO allies, the use of Oreshnik sharpens questions about Russia’s strike capacity, missile defence and how closely the U.S. and Europe coordinate their response.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Russia and Israel added to UN blacklist for sexual violence during conflicts

A United Nations annual report seen by Israel’s mission on May 28 put Israeli and Russian security forces on the UN blacklist for conflict-related sexual violence for the first time. The report says UN investigators verified 310 such cases in Russia and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in 2025, and 13 cases involving Palestinians detained by Israeli forces. Both governments rejected the findings on Thursday and signaled they will challenge the report with UN chief Antonio Guterres.

Why it matters

The report raises the stakes around prisoner treatment and access for UN investigators, because it cites verified cases rather than allegations alone. It also gives diplomats and rights groups fresh leverage in talks over detainees, inspections and accountability.

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

Politics

NYT: Guatemala agrees with the U.S. to take action against drug traffickers

Guatemala and the United States have agreed to mount joint strike operations against drug traffickers on Guatemalan territory, the New York Times reported, with LRT carrying the story on May 29. The deal would give U.S. personnel a direct role alongside Guatemalan security forces in border and jungle areas used by trafficking networks. It comes as Washington steps up pressure across Latin America to disrupt narcotics routes before they reach the U.S. market.

Why it matters

Border communities in Guatemala will feel the operation first through checkpoints, detentions and tighter movement controls. If the raids spread into the Petén and Mexican border areas, local trade and cross-border travel could be disrupted quickly.

sources:lrt.lt

Sports

World Cup off the field: how football becomes a global spectacle

FIFA and the New York-New Jersey 2026 World Cup organisers said on May 15 that Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the final’s halftime show at MetLife Stadium, where the format was already tested at the Club World Cup final. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino also said the last World Cup weekend will include a takeover of Times Square, pushing the tournament well beyond the stadium bowl. The message is clear: the 2026 World Cup is being packaged as a multi-city entertainment product, not just a month of football.

Why it matters

The money will not stay inside the stadium. Hotels, transport operators, broadcasters and sponsors in the New York area stand to gain from a model built around concerts, fan zones and city-centre activations.

sources:vz.lt