3 June 2026

The Lithuanian government on Wednesday backed draft changes under which the state would compensate residents if Lithuanian troops or NATO allies lawfully shot down an airborne object and damaged property. The defence ministry wants a clear claims process so troops do not hesitate when responding to drones or other flying targets, with payouts to come from the ministry’s budget.

Lithuania’s Centre of Registers said more than 600,000 records may have been stolen in a cyber breach that went undetected for a long time, with damage estimated at at least 111,000 euros. Economy and Innovation Minister Edvinas Grikšas said two-factor authentication will be switched on for centre logins from Friday. Vilnius City District Court has begun hearing commentator Skirmantas Malinauskas’ civil case against Raimondas Šimaitis over allegedly false information. Malinauskas has tied the dispute to a broader corruption narrative involving former politicians and people linked to law enforcement.

A defence industry conference at the Pabradė training area showcased armoured vehicles, drones and explosives demonstrations, with SAAB, Patria and Rafael among the foreign companies present. President Gitanas Nausėda is in Podgorica for an EU-Western Balkans leaders’ meeting, where Lithuania is pushing to speed up enlargement and keep the region on the bloc’s agenda. Litgrid said Lithuania’s electricity price rose 41% in May because of lower wind generation, and thousands of residents unexpectedly lost power on Wednesday. In Klaipėda, a man was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for assaulting and sexually assaulting a girl in a forest park.

The school-leaving exam session has opened with an important rules change for final-year students. A hit-and-run case also drew attention after an injured girl was driven around following the crash and police highlighted other drivers’ indifference. At Santaros Hospital, a patient died after falling from a window, while another high-profile healthcare case centres on a young woman’s death and allegations of medical negligence. In sport, 19-year-old guard Sintija Aukštikalnytė is heading to the NCAA after averaging 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists at the 2024 European Championship.

Lithuania lodged a protest with Russia over attacks on Ukraine and Romania. In sport, Utena's Juventus reached the LKL final for the first time in club history, opening a path to the Basketball Champions League.

Ukraine said it killed 1,130 Russian troops over the past 24 hours, pushing Moscow’s total losses above one million by Kyiv’s count. Russia launched 198 drones overnight, and Ukrainian air defences said they had shot down or jammed 189 by morning, though strikes and falling debris were reported at seven locations. In Kyiv, the death toll from a fresh Russian attack rose to at least seven. In the Sumy region, one person was killed and 18 were injured in Russian strikes.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine hit a target in Russia overnight about 1,100 km from the border. Kyiv said it struck an oil terminal in St Petersburg just before Vladimir Putin’s international forum in the city. Fuel shortages in occupied Luhansk have led to sales restrictions. An air-raid alert sounded during the NATO chief’s visit to Kyiv, and the alliance said Russia was growing more desperate.

Estonia and Latvia warned over the past day about a rising drone threat after incidents in Estonian waters, shadow-fleet activity and repeated airspace violations. A military analyst who played Valery Gerasimov in a war game said the Baltic states were only a tool in Moscow’s wider confrontation with the West. President Gitanas Nausėda discussed EU security, military mobility funding, border protection and support for Ukraine in a call with Slovene Prime Minister Robert Golob. In England, three soldiers were killed when a helicopter crashed during exercises.

In Spain, Barcelona finished the season on 94 points to win the title, with Real Madrid second on 86.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia has amassed enough missiles to carry out several mass strikes each month and outlined the scale of its ballistic missile production. He also said he was ready for direct talks with Vladimir Putin to end the war. Ukraine separately said it had successfully tested the new FP-7.X anti-ballistic missile.

Kuwait said Iran launched 30 ballistic missiles and drones at the country, and 63 people were treated after a strike on Kuwait International Airport. Kuwait’s health ministry said 25 ambulances were sent to the airport. The U.S. Navy and partner forces have shot down Iranian rockets and drones in the Persian Gulf over the past two days after attacks aimed at American ships, sites in Kuwait and areas near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has tightened civilian shipping escorts through the strait, while Iran has accused Kuwait and Bahrain of helping recent U.S. strikes on its military infrastructure. Kuwait has also expelled two Iranian embassy staff after the deadly attack.

Lebanon’s health ministry said six people were killed on Wednesday when an Israeli strike hit a village near Tyre, including two rescuers from the Risala Scouts and a Syrian girl. Lebanese media also reported an Israeli strike on a vehicle near Beirut. Benjamin Netanyahu promised a $1 billion aid package for northern Israel after Hezbollah attacks.

In New Delhi, a hotel fire killed at least 21 people on Wednesday after flames trapped guests on upper floors. Rescuers pulled dozens of people from the building, and investigators are checking whether the hotel complied with fire-safety rules and had proper escape routes. In Tokyo, 26-year-old social media creator Airi Sato was found dead in an apartment block in Setagaya ward after she was attacked during a livestreamed morning walk. Police detained a 42-year-old man on suspicion of stabbing her, and investigators are examining how he tracked her down and whether he had any prior link to her online activity.

The Trump administration has also proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 countries, opening a separate economic front beyond the Middle East crisis.

Donald Trump’s team decided the US should no longer act as a mediator in Russia’s war against Ukraine and instead choose a side more openly. The Wall Street rally ended as oil prices rose during US-Iran clashes, adding pressure across markets.