22 June 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

In Anyksciai district today, an armed man opened fire on officers responding to a callout before the Aras tactical unit shot him dead at the scene. Police chief Arunas Paulauskas said there had been no other option, and investigators are tracing how the man obtained the gun and what triggered the initial response.

A Vilnius court said today it will hear the case against Russian FSB officer Nikolai Filipchenko, who is accused of recruiting two Lithuanian citizens for espionage. Investigators say he worked with another Russian national and met the targets abroad between 2011 and 2014, paying for travel, visas and communications. In Pabrade, Lithuanian and German ministers discussed the deployment of Berlin’s brigade, and Boris Pistorius said gaps remain not only in barracks and training grounds but also in schools and kindergartens for soldiers’ families. He added that Germany could use conscription mechanisms if needed for the force in Lithuania, while the target for full deployment by the end of 2027 remains unchanged.

In Plunge today, police found the body of a missing man born in 1952. Investigators are establishing the cause of death and reconstructing his final movements after he left home. Bigbank said today that Lithuania’s economy should grow the fastest in the Baltics this year. In Vilnius, the Innovation Agency presented its 2026-2030 plan, targeting business spending on research, experimental development and innovation at 1.3% of GDP by 2030. Planners for Vilnius’s National House project said today that organs and related equipment require an extra EUR 3 million beyond the current construction budget.

Germany’s minister said the German brigade in Lithuania will be formed at any cost. Lithuania is also strengthening its air defence, allocating millions to switch to domestically produced drones.

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

Tragic search for missing man in Plungė ends with discovery of a corpse

Police in Plungė found the body of a missing man on June 22, 2022, at about 11.21 a.m., ending a search that had been launched after he left home and did not return. The man was born in 1952, according to the report. Investigators then moved to establish the cause of death and reconstruct his last movements.

Why it matters

For the family, the search has ended, but the cause of death is still unresolved. Police findings and forensic results will decide whether the case is treated as an accident or as a possible crime.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Pistorius on Germany's brigade deployment in Lithuania: gaps exist

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in Vilnius on June 22 that gaps still remain before Germany can fully deploy its brigade in Lithuania. He said the job is not just about barracks and training grounds, but also schools, kindergartens and other civilian services for soldiers arriving with families. The two governments have already agreed the deployment plan, and the target remains to have the brigade in place by the end of 2027.

Why it matters

The timetable affects housing, roads, schools and local services in Rūdninkai, Jonava and nearby municipalities. Any delay would leave Lithuania relying longer on a temporary allied presence rather than a permanent German brigade.

sources:tv3.lt delfi.lt

Crime

In Anykščiai district, a bloodshed: shooting at police, Aras shoots a armed man

On June 22 in Anykščiai district, a armed man opened fire as police arrived, and counter-terrorism unit Aras was brought in and neutralised him. The case comes after a string of recent armed standoffs with officers elsewhere in Lithuania, including in Jonava and Elektrėnai district. Investigators now have to establish how the gun was obtained, whether anyone else was involved and what prompted the initial police response.

Why it matters

The incident affects local safety immediately, because reinforced units are sent into rural areas and normal movement around the scene is disrupted. It also forces police to review response tactics, and shows how quickly officers and Aras can isolate a heavily armed suspect.

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

Politics

A Russian FSB officer will be tried in Lithuania: two Lithuanians were involved in spying

A Vilnius court said on June 22, 2026 it will hear the case against Russian FSB officer Nikolai Filipchenko, accused of recruiting two Lithuanian citizens for espionage. Investigators say he worked with another Russian national and met the targets abroad between October 2011 and the end of 2014, funding travel, visas and communications. The case lands in a wider Lithuanian counterintelligence effort that has already produced convictions and trials involving Russian operatives and local intermediaries.

Why it matters

The case matters for people working in defence, aviation and state security because it shows recruitment can run through long personal ties, not just access to classified files. It is likely to sharpen vetting rules and change how agencies assess foreign contacts and travel to third countries.

sources:tv3.lt lrt.lt 15min.lt

Politics

For organs – €3 million: talk of funding shortfall for building the Nation's House

On June 22 in Vilnius, planners for the Nation's House said organs and related equipment would require another €3 million on top of the building budget. The figure came up as contractors prepare for construction, adding pressure to decide whether the city, sponsors or both will cover the gap. If the financing is not locked in, the technical design may be revised and some equipment pushed into a later phase.

Why it matters

Vilnius and potential private backers now have to decide whether to cover the extra €3 million upfront or delay it and alter the building's final function. That will shape how usable the venue is for cultural institutions and concert organisers, not just how quickly it opens.

sources:tv3.lt

Economy

Head of the Innovation Agency: by 2030 business investments in innovation must triple

Innovation Agency head Monika Paulė on June 22 in Vilnius unveiled the 2026-2030 plan and said business spending on research, experimental development and innovation must reach 1.3% of GDP by 2030. She said many companies still undercount innovation activity, so the agency will lean more heavily on sector data and closer links with firms. The strategy also targets higher value-added exports and stronger productivity, with four priorities: innovation, export shift, productivity and internal reform.

Why it matters

For manufacturers and exporters, the target shifts more capital toward R&D, new technologies and product development. If the plan works, more firms should gain support to lift productivity and move into higher-value work rather than competing mainly on labour costs.

sources:vz.lt

Europe

Summary

A Russian strike in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region killed a 13-year-old boy, his father and his grandmother over the past 48 hours. The attack damaged a residential block, a hospital, an educational facility and dozens of cars.

In the Sumy region, another Russian strike killed a teenager and two adults, and several members of the same family were injured. Russia also attacked two ships bound for Ukrainian ports, killing one person. In Moscow, all four airports were briefly shut after a morning drone attack, as Russian officials said nearly 60 drones were destroyed. In Kyiv, the SBU detained Ukrainian citizens recruited by Russia who were preparing an explosion and planning to flee by inflatable boat.

In occupied Crimea, no rail ferries were operating today, further disrupting cargo flows through the peninsula’s ports. Sevastopol has imposed a 20-litre fuel cap per person, and with traffic limits on the R-280 highway, the Kerch Bridge and roads remain the main supply routes. Ukraine also struck Russia’s space communications centre in Dubna, while the Kremlin issued fresh accusations against Kyiv after remarks by Volodymyr Zelenskiy and held talks between Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko. Retired U.S. Army Europe commander Ben Hodges said Russian forces in Kaliningrad would be destroyed if Moscow attacked NATO.

Kyiv said it struck a key Russian factory, while Russian officials reported five deaths. Ukraine also said it destroyed 18 Russian tanks in a special operation. Extreme weather continued to hit Europe, with France reporting three heat-related deaths and 13 drownings, while a major storm triggered flooding in Poland.

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

No train ferries operating in temporarily occupied Crimea

Ukrainian intelligence-linked sources and Russian media said on June 22 that no train ferries were operating in occupied Crimea, disrupting cargo movements through the peninsula’s ports. The transport squeeze has been tightening for days, with traffic limits on the R-280 highway and a 20-litre-per-person petrol cap in Sevastopol. Russian officials have not said when ferry services will resume, leaving the Kerch Bridge and the road network as the main remaining supply routes.

Why it matters

For Crimean residents, the immediate effect is tighter access to fuel and goods, because the peninsula’s road links are already under strain. For the Russian military, the loss of ferry capacity makes it harder to move heavier cargo and equipment into Crimea as alternative routes narrow.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Brutal Russian attack on civilians in Ukraine: a 13-year-old, his father and grandmother killed

A Russian strike in Chernihiv region over the past 48 hours killed a 13-year-old boy, his father and his grandmother, as rescuers pulled more injured people from the rubble. Ukrainian officials said a residential block, a hospital, an educational facility and dozens of cars were damaged in the attack. It is one of the deadliest strikes in northern Ukraine this month, and Kyiv is again pressing allies for more air defences.

Why it matters

For civilians in Chernihiv, it means more dead and another hit to the local infrastructure that must be repaired after strikes on residential districts. The attack also adds pressure on Ukraine’s air defences, which determine how often missiles reach hospitals, schools and apartment blocks.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine: Russians allegedly planned explosion in Kyiv and escape by inflatable boat; SBU detains recruited Ukrainians

Ukraine’s SBU says it has detained Ukrainian citizens recruited by Russia who were preparing an explosion in Kyiv and a getaway by inflatable boat. Investigators say the group was linked to a preplanned escape route by water and acted on instructions from Moscow. The case now moves into a criminal investigation into possible wider Russian intelligence networks in the capital.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, it means another attempt to strike inside the city rather than at the front. Cases like this also raise the risk that civilians get pulled into covert logistics, messaging or the transport of explosives.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

General Hodges: if they attack, we will destroy the Russian Armed Forces in Kaliningrad

Retired U.S. Army Europe commander Ben Hodges said on June 21, 2026 that Russian forces in Kaliningrad would be destroyed if Moscow attacked NATO. His remarks landed after weeks of sharper rhetoric over the enclave, with Russian and NATO officials trading warnings about strikes on air-defence and missile sites there. Hodges has repeatedly argued that the alliance must move faster on deterrence and readiness in the Baltic region.

Why it matters

Kaliningrad is central to Baltic defence planning, so any escalation around the enclave would quickly affect air defence, sea lanes and the land link to the Baltic states. Public threats like this also force NATO allies to spell out more clearly how they would respond if Russia tries to test the region.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. Moscow hit by a drone onslaught: all airports had to be closed

Russia said Moscow came under another Ukrainian drone attack on June 22, with air defences intercepting drones over the capital early in the morning. The strikes forced all four of Moscow’s airports to suspend operations temporarily, rippling through schedules and leaving passengers stranded or diverted. It is the latest in a run of attacks that has repeatedly disrupted Russian aviation and underlined the pressure Ukraine can still bring to the capital far from the front line.

Why it matters

Thousands of passengers are hit first, losing connections and facing hours of delays as flights are diverted or cancelled. For Russian aviation, the repeated shutdowns mean higher costs, tighter schedules and another reminder that the war can still disrupt daily life in the capital.

sources:tv3.lt

Economy

Warning to Europe's car industry: China is building a new bastion near us

Chinese EV makers have reached a new milestone in Europe, taking more than 15 per cent of all battery-electric sales in May 2026. Some groups are now building or taking over production inside the EU, including in Spain, to deepen their foothold in the market. European carmakers are waiting to see whether Brussels tightens trade defences or whether Chinese brands expand local manufacturing even faster.

Why it matters

European carmakers are being squeezed in the segment that matters most for future profits. If Chinese brands keep growing and making cars inside Europe, pricing, supply chains and jobs will become even more dependent on decisions made in Beijing and Brussels.

sources:delfi.lt

World

Summary

Iran and the U.S. moved closer over the past day to a deal to end the war in the Middle East. Mediators say a draft text is nearly complete, but final signatures still hinge on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and settling the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium. Washington said today it would temporarily halt sanctions on Iranian crude, and Vice President J.D. Vance said the talks had laid solid groundwork for a final agreement. Vance also said no returned Iranian funds would be used to finance terrorism while both sides keep a 60-day ceasefire in place at working level.

In the occupied West Bank, Palestinian families and local officials said today that Israel was holding the bodies of two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, after they were shot dead near Hebron. In Democratic Republic of Congo, confirmed Ebola cases have now exceeded 1,000, marking the worst point so far in the current outbreak. In the Caribbean, U.S. forces struck a suspected drug-running vessel in southern waters this week, killing two men; at least 196 people have now been reported dead in Washington’s campaign against boats tied to Latin American narcotics routes since last September.

In Miami, Cape Verde drew 2-2 with Uruguay yesterday and stayed unbeaten after two Group H matches. Kevin Pina scored Cape Verde’s first ever World Cup goal, while Uruguay now need points against Spain in their final group game.

An explosion at a gas plant in Qatar killed at least 13 people and injured dozens more. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the number of recorded Ebola cases has exceeded 1,000.

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

Ukraine hits important Russian missile system components plant in Voronezh

Ukrainian drones hit an industrial site in Voronezh on June 22, 2026, with Ukrainian sources linking it to components for Russian missile systems. The strike comes after a series of recent attacks on Russian military-industry targets, including logistics and fuel sites in and around Voronezh region. If the damage is confirmed, it could slow the assembly and repair of missile hardware in Russia’s southwest.

Why it matters

Russia’s missile supply chain depends on a handful of specialized plants and suppliers. Even temporary disruption at one node can slow spare-part deliveries for units maintaining air-defense and strike systems.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Palestinian media: Israel holds the bodies of two slain teenagers

On June 22, family members and local officials said Israel was holding the bodies of two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, after they were shot dead near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The report lands amid a run of deadly incidents in the same area, including the killing of a seven-month-old Palestinian baby by Israeli fire on June 5. Israel links the retention of bodies to security procedures, while Palestinians say it delays burials and deepens grief for families trying to recover their dead.

Why it matters

For the two families, the bodies remain tied up in a legal and political dispute instead of being buried. In the Hebron area, the practice adds another layer of strain to hospitals, local authorities and communities already dealing with repeated killings of minors.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

FST agents arrested, planned terror attack on Kyiv

Two Russian military intelligence agents were detained in Kyiv in a joint operation by Ukraine’s security service and national police. Investigators said the pair were preparing an improvised explosive device for detonation in a busy part of the capital. The case now moves into a criminal probe that will be handled by Ukrainian security authorities.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, it shows that the threat is not just missiles but covert sabotage inside the city. Cases like this usually lead to tighter checks around transport hubs, public events and government buildings.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Two people killed in US strike on ship in Caribbean Sea

U.S. forces struck a suspected drug-running vessel in the southern Caribbean this week, killing two men, according to U.S. officials. The attack is part of a campaign that began in early September against boats Washington links to Latin American narcotics routes, with at least 196 people reported dead so far. The operation is now drawing questions over the legal basis for the strikes and how the chain of command is being handled.

Why it matters

Smuggling routes across the Caribbean are becoming far more dangerous for crews and coastal communities, with U.S. strikes now reaching boats while they are still at sea. The legal fight in Washington could shape how long this campaign lasts and how far it expands.

sources:lrt.lt 15min.lt

Politics

After Iran-US talks on ending the war, mediators report progress

Pakistan said on June 13 that the U.S. and Iran had essentially reached an agreement to end the war in the Middle East, and on June 15 both sides said they would extend the ceasefire for 60 days. Two issues remain unresolved: reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium. Iran has blocked that route since late February, even though it normally carries about 20% of global oil flows. Mediators now say the draft text is nearly ready, but final signatures still hinge on security and nuclear terms.

Why it matters

Oil markets and shipping firms are waiting to see whether the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. If the route stays shut, insurance and freight costs will remain elevated across the region, feeding into Europe’s energy import bill.

sources:15min.lt

Sports

Cape Verde remains undefeated at the World Cup after a unique meeting with Uruguay

Cape Verde drew 2-2 with Uruguay in Miami on June 21 and stayed unbeaten after two games in Group H. Kevin Pina scored Cape Verde’s first World Cup goal, a landmark for a debut team that has already taken four points from two matches. Uruguay now face a tougher route out of the group and must get a result against Spain in their final match.

Why it matters

The point keeps Cape Verde in striking distance of the knockout stage on its World Cup debut. For Uruguay, it raises the pressure on the final group match and could force them into a must-win game against Spain.

sources:tv3.lt