24 June 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Gitanas Nausėda is meeting prime ministerial candidate Mindaugas Sinkevičius at the presidential palace today to discuss forming a new government after the ruling majority was reshuffled. The meeting should clarify when Nausėda will send the nomination to parliament and how far cabinet changes will go, with sources saying Sinkevičius plans to replace about half the ministers. In Vilnius, the Democrats brought a 10-page list of demands to coalition talks today, covering the government programme and the division of ministries, as the Social Democrats build a new majority with the Democrats and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union after breaking with Nemuno Aušra.

In Kaunas’ Šilainiai district, a wartime grenade triggered a cordon and a “Shield” operation today, with bomb disposal specialists called in and the area fenced off. Officers will decide after the disposal team’s work whether the device is destroyed on site or taken away for neutralisation. A friend of the Lithuanian fighter Ignas, who was killed in Ukraine, said today that a mine hidden by Russians in a box caused his death in a front-line area, and more witnesses are now being sought to reconstruct his final hours. Lithuania has also stepped in to mediate a Poland-Ukraine dispute over World War Two memory in an effort to protect support for Kyiv and the investment agenda.

At the Ukraine reconstruction conference, President Nausėda reiterated Lithuania’s support for Kyiv until victory, and foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys is also taking part in the talks. Over the past day, Polish authorities detained more than 50 migrants and their escorts moving through Lithuania, underlining pressure on border controls. Lithuania has received the first payment under the EU’s SAFE defence financing instrument for priority defence investment, resilience and military modernisation. Nearly 1 billion euros has also arrived in Lithuania for planned state funding needs. In Kaunas, a 15-year-old girl died in hospital after an incident at a beach, while doctors warned that a single error in cancer diagnostics can carry a high cost for patients.

President Gitanas Nausėda said he will submit Mindaugas Sinkevičius to parliament as prime minister. He also named Kęstutis Budrys as the main candidate for foreign minister, while Sinkevičius said he would present his ministerial picks next week.

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

Kaunas: security services sweep, fenced-off area, 'Shield' plan in force

In Kaunas’ Šilainiai district on June 24, 2026, a wartime grenade triggered a cordon and a “Shield” operation while bomb disposal specialists were called in. In the city, such finds are often made during excavation or cleanup work, and the safety protocol can temporarily halt traffic and clear the immediate area. After the disposal team finishes its work, officers decide whether the device is destroyed on site or taken away for neutralisation.

Why it matters

For residents and drivers in Šilainiai, it can mean temporary movement restrictions and possible evacuation around the find site. It also freezes work on construction sites until police and bomb disposal teams clear the area and reopen it.

sources:lrytas.lt delfi.lt

Politics

Friend of a Lithuanian killed in Ukraine says a mine hidden by Russians in a box caused the death

On June 24, a friend of the Lithuanian fighter Ignas said he was killed in Ukraine by a mine Russians had hidden in a box. The account places the death in a front-line area where booby traps are used to catch advancing troops and slow movement. The friend says the next step is to locate more witnesses and reconstruct Ignas' final hours.

Why it matters

Families of Lithuanians fighting in Ukraine rely on accounts like this to understand how their relatives died and to seek confirmation from comrades or Ukrainian authorities. The details also help Lithuanian officials document where and how citizens are being lost on the front line.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Lithuania has a chance to defuse the dangerous Poland-Ukraine conflict

Poland and Ukraine have blown open a public row over World War Two history, and Lithuania has stepped in to offer mediation ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk on June 25-26, 2026. The spat was sharpened by decisions over awards linked to Volodymyr Zelensky and by a dispute over a Ukrainian military unit name tied to the UPA. Vilnius is trying to keep the dispute from spilling into the wider support track for Kyiv and from souring talks on funding and investment in Gdansk.

Why it matters

Ukraine needs the Gdansk meetings to stay focused on money and political backing from European partners. If the row with Poland deepens, it could complicate bilateral security coordination and weaken the regional chain that matters for transit, defence and aid to Kyiv.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

The president will meet PM candidate Mindaugas Sinkevičius to discuss forming the government

President Gitanas Nausėda is due to meet Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius at the Presidential Palace on June 24 to discuss forming a new government after the parliamentary majority was reshuffled. Sinkevičius said on June 16 that he was ready to take the prime minister’s post, and the Social Democrats later sealed a new coalition with the Democrats and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union after dumping the hard-right Nemuno Aušra. The meeting should clarify how quickly Nausėda will submit the nomination to parliament and how the new cabinet will be assembled.

Why it matters

The outcome will determine when parliament receives a prime ministerial nominee and how quickly the new cabinet can be approved. It also affects budget work and the allocation of ministerial portfolios between the new coalition partners.

sources:15min.lt

Economy

First tranche of SAFE instrument arrived in Lithuania

Lithuania has received the first payment under the EU’s SAFE defence financing instrument, the finance ministry said on June 24. The European Commission had already moved ahead with SAFE payments to Poland and approved defence plans for eight member states, including Lithuania. The money is earmarked for priority defence investment, resilience and military modernisation, setting up the next round of procurement and project delivery.

Why it matters

The payment gives Lithuania a firmer funding base for defence procurement, from equipment to infrastructure. It also eases pressure on the state budget and can bring forward projects that would otherwise be delayed.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Democrats call for strict reforms: ‘This raises many questions’

On June 24 in Vilnius, the Democrats said they had brought a 10-page document to coalition talks, laying out their demands for the government programme and the division of ministries. The talks began after the Social Democrats broke with Nemuno aušra on June 10 and invited Vardan Lietuvos back into the majority, with Saulius Skvernelis saying the party was not changing its line. The negotiations are still open, and any deal will hinge on both cabinet posts and policy commitments.

Why it matters

These talks will decide who controls the parliamentary majority and which bills reach the top of the agenda, from cabinet posts to the government programme. A deal that brings the Democrats back would reset the balance of power between the Social Democrats, Nemuno aušra and Vardan Lietuvos.

sources:tv3.lt

Europe

Summary

In Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, a Russian drone struck a moving car today and killed the driver. In Novopetrivka in the Kherson region, a 24-year-old demining specialist was killed in shelling and three other people were wounded.

In Kharkiv, a woman was killed when a Russian overnight strike hit a residential building, and rescuers later found her body under the rubble. In Russian-occupied Sevastopol, parts of the city lost power after a large Ukrainian strike on Crimea, and officials were checking damage to electricity and communications lines. Ukraine said it shot down 95 of more than 100 Russian drones over the past day.

In Moscow, former Kremlin adviser Sergei Markov publicly called yesterday for Russia to punish Europe with nuclear weapons. State-aligned Russian media and pro-war accounts quickly amplified the remark as Western capitals weigh fresh support for Kyiv.

In France, temperatures reached 40C in places over the weekend, triggering limits on outdoor sport, train cancellations and concert stoppages. Paris and Rome opened cooling stations today, and nearly 70,000 people in France were left without power. The WHO’s Europe office says heat has caused more than 200,000 deaths across the region over the past four years.

In Paris, Paris Basketball beat AS Monaco 99-93 after overtime yesterday to win the French league title for the first time. The finals ended 3-2, ending Monaco’s two-year hold on the championship.

A Russian opposition figure was sentenced to seven years in prison over posts about the war in Ukraine. Kyiv said it had received Donald Trump's approval to intensify strikes on Russia to push Moscow to the negotiating table. The head of the IAEA said the agency will carry out inspections at Iran's nuclear facilities.

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

Russian drone attacked a car in Zaporizhzhia region; driver killed

A Russian drone hit a moving car in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on June 24, killing the driver, Ukrainian officials said. The strike landed in a frontline area where civilian cars are often used for evacuations and supply runs to isolated villages. Local services were checking whether anyone else was in the vehicle and whether nearby roads remained safe to use.

Why it matters

Civilians in Zaporizhzhia region travel on roads where drones are increasingly used against moving vehicles. That constrains movement, complicates aid deliveries and forces local authorities to reroute traffic away from the most exposed areas.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Women killed and power cut during attacks in Kharkiv and Sevastopol

Russian strikes on Kharkiv and Russian-occupied Sevastopol overnight on June 24 killed one woman and knocked out power in parts of the city, local officials said. In Kharkiv, a strike hit a residential building and rescuers later found the woman’s body under the rubble. In Sevastopol, blasts cut electricity and prompted checks on damaged grid and communications lines.

Why it matters

For Kharkiv residents, the attack adds more strain on housing and utilities that have to be repaired under wartime conditions. In Crimea, power cuts can ripple into port operations, communications and transport, forcing local authorities to divert crews to emergency grid repairs.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Former Putin adviser: Russia should punish Europe with nuclear weapons

Former Kremlin adviser Sergei Markov called on Russia to punish Europe with nuclear weapons in a public remark in Moscow on June 23. Markov is a veteran Kremlin insider and a regular cheerleader for the war in Ukraine, which gives the statement added political weight inside Russia. The comment was immediately amplified by Russian state-aligned media and pro-war accounts as Western capitals debate fresh support for Kyiv.

Why it matters

European capitals are being reminded that the Kremlin still uses nuclear threats as a pressure tool when the West weighs sanctions and military aid for Ukraine. That raises the stakes for missile defence, civil protection planning and tighter coordination across NATO’s eastern flank.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

A mining expert killed during a Russian strike in Ukraine

A 24-year-old demining specialist was killed on June 24 in Novopetrivka, in Ukraine's Kherson region, after Russian shelling hit the Vysokopillia community, local authorities said. Three other people were wounded in the strike, which hit a village where humanitarian teams are working to clear unexploded ordnance after repeated attacks. The death removes another specialist from a field that is already stretched by the war’s mine and bomb contamination, slowing the pace at which civilians can safely return to homes, roads and farmland.

Why it matters

For civilians in southern Ukraine, it means slower clearance of roads, fields and damaged homes. Every loss among demining crews delays safe returns to areas littered with unexploded ordnance and makes humanitarian work more dangerous.

sources:15min.lt

Environment

Heat waves across Europe: from fan shortages to tragic consequences

France hit 40C in places on June 22, prompting bans on public drinking, limits on outdoor sport and cancellations of trains, concerts and sporting events. Paris and Rome set up cooling stations as the heat wave spread across Europe, while the WHO’s Europe office said this month that heat caused more than 200,000 deaths in the region over the past four years. Forecasters warned the heat would intensify the next day, keeping top-level alerts in place across parts of the region.

Why it matters

The biggest hit falls on older people, outdoor workers and city residents without air conditioning. Rail delays and event cancellations also bite into travel, tourism and local business activity.

sources:lrt.lt

Sports

Monaco club won the French championship

Paris Basketball beat AS Monaco 99-93 after overtime on June 23 in Paris to win the French league title for the first time. The series ended 3-2, ending Monaco’s two-year hold on the championship. Monaco finished runner-up after back-to-back titles in the previous two seasons.

Why it matters

The title reshapes the French basketball hierarchy, with Paris Basketball emerging as a new force in the capital. For Monaco, it means a summer of squad decisions and a reset before the next EuroLeague campaign.

sources:tv3.lt

World

Summary

A UN commission said yesterday that Israeli security forces deliberately targeted and killed Palestinian children, describing the conduct as part of genocide in Gaza. It said 241 children have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023, and more than 21,000 in Gaza; Israel rejected the findings.

Kim Jong Un said in Pyongyang today that a new 5,000-ton destroyer is ready for service and cast it as a step toward a navy armed with nuclear weapons. North Korean state media said he watched cruise missile tests from the ship and ordered naval vessels to be rapidly equipped with hypersonic cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles. In Tehran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said today that the U.S.-Iran deal to end the Middle East war amounts to an American defeat. The June 15 agreement reopened the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and set a 60-day negotiating window, but a dispute over full nuclear inspections remains unresolved.

In Washington, Congress showed sharper divisions over the scope and cost of any war with Iran over the past day. Signals from the talks pushed wheat lower, with Chicago July futures slipping to $6.1675 a bushel from $6.2050 and MATIF May wheat holding at 195-197 euros a tonne. Linas Agro's Justas Eimontas said a final deal would likely ease wheat prices further, while renewed tensions would keep grain markets elevated. India tightened rules on foreign funding of NGOs over the past day, while China detained two Japanese citizens on suspected contraband charges.

Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto yesterday, and Luka Modric made his 200th appearance for the national team. The result kept Croatia alive before a decisive group match against Ghana, while England failed to break Ghana's defense today and dropped valuable qualifying points. Colombia's win over DR Congo opened its path to the World Cup knockout stage.

The IAEA chief said the agency will carry out inspections at Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel’s defence minister said the United States is not requiring an Israeli troop pullout from Lebanon.

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

UN: Israel knowingly commits genocide against Palestinian children

A UN commission on June 23 said Israeli security forces deliberately targeted and killed Palestinian children, and described the conduct as part of genocide in Gaza. It said 241 children have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023, while more than 21,000 children have been killed in Gaza, citing Palestinian health ministry figures. Israel rejected the findings, and the report now feeds into pressure on UN member states and the Human Rights Council.

Why it matters

Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank remain directly exposed to the war, and the UN finding could intensify pressure for arms restrictions and accountability probes. It also raises the stakes for European capitals weighing whether to back tougher sanctions or stick with current policy toward Israel.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Kim Jong Un builds a navy equipped with nuclear weapons

On June 24, 2026, Kim Jong Un declared a new 5,000-ton destroyer ready for service in Pyongyang, framing it as a step toward a navy equipped with nuclear weapons. State media said he also watched cruise missile tests from the ship and ordered naval vessels to be rapidly armed with more powerful strike systems, including hypersonic cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles. The message is clear: North Korea wants a sea-based deterrent that can threaten U.S. and South Korean assets far beyond its coastline.

Why it matters

For South Korea, Japan and the United States, the shift broadens the threat at sea. Warships carrying nuclear-capable missiles would complicate missile defense and force allies to expand surveillance and naval patrols across the western Pacific.

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

Politics

The war continues: despite losses, no signs Putin seeks negotiations

On June 24, European capitals are still talking about a possible opening for talks this summer, but there is no sign Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate despite heavy Russian losses on the battlefield. LRT has reported that Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul sees a potential window for talks, while Moscow has tied any deal to Ukraine withdrawing from Donbas. Russia is also pressing its offensive and expanding military capacity near the Nordic and Baltic region, leaving the next few weeks focused more on whether the Kremlin shifts its terms than on any breakthrough.

Why it matters

For Ukrainian civilians and troops, the lack of any real negotiating move points to more fighting, more casualties and continued strikes on infrastructure. For Europe, the bigger risk is that Moscow keeps probing both Ukraine’s defenses and NATO’s eastern flank at the same time.

sources:lrt.lt

Economy

Justas Eimontas. Tensions in US-Iran negotiations reflected in the grain market: what to expect next

On June 22 and June 23, signs of progress in US-Iran talks were reflected in grain trading, with Linas Agro’s Justas Eimontas pointing to pressure on wheat futures. He said Chicago July wheat had slipped to $6.1675 a bushel from $6.2050 on April 23, while MATIF May contracts were holding around €195-197 a tonne. If the talks turn into a final deal, wheat prices could ease further; if tensions flare again, they are likely to stay elevated.

Why it matters

Lithuanian grain traders and farmers are now watching Middle East diplomacy as closely as harvest forecasts, because price moves quickly filter into elevator bids. Any signal of a US-Iran deal can move exchange prices before the physical marketing season even gets under way.

sources:delfi.lt

Sports

Luka Modrić's 200th appearance: Croatia beat Panama and kept World Cup hopes alive

Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto on June 23, and Luka Modrić made his 200th appearance for the national team. The result kept Croatia in the hunt in Group L after Ghana had already beaten Panama at the same venue earlier in the tournament. Croatia now go into their final group match against Ghana in Philadelphia on June 27 needing another result to stay on course for the knockout stage.

Why it matters

The win keeps Croatia alive for the knockout rounds, with one group game left and no margin for error. Modrić reaching 200 appearances underlines how much Croatia still depends on him in the decisive stage of the tournament.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Iran called the deal to end the war in the Middle East a US defeat

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on June 24 in Tehran that the U.S.-Iran deal to end the war in the Middle East amounts to an American defeat. The agreement, first announced on June 15, sets a 60-day negotiating window and reopens the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but the nuclear file is still unresolved. Washington and Tehran are now fighting over whether Iran has actually agreed to full inspections, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is touring Gulf capitals to calm allies.

Why it matters

Oil markets and shipping firms care most because the Strait of Hormuz is meant to reopen, but the fight over inspections could still blow up the broader accord and keep freight insurance expensive. Gulf states are watching for real limits on Iran’s nuclear program, because that will shape their own security planning and ties with Washington.

sources:delfi.lt