Term
Trial in absentia
A trial in absentia allows a criminal case to proceed without the defendant being physically present, under conditions set by law. It is typically used when the accused cannot be brought before a Lithuanian court.
4 August 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
Vilnius district has declared an emergency in three local municipalities. At the same time, a crash in Nemenčinė killed a 3-year-old girl, her mother and the driver, with investigators examining speed, sobriety and the safety of the manoeuvre.
Over the past two days, a revolver, ammunition and a hand grenade were found in Vilnius, Birštonas and the Vilnius district. Investigators are trying to establish whether the weapons were recently dumped or came from older hidden stockpiles, a distinction that will shape any criminal case. Two bodies were also found in Lithuania today, and police are checking identities and causes of death. Decomposing bodies of women were found in Šiauliai and Raseiniai district.
In Klaipėda, a court has begun hearing an espionage case in absentia against a Russian national accused of acting as an FSB officer. Prosecutors say he spent years coordinating intelligence collection in Lithuania, and one defendant in the wider case has already received a four-year prison term.
Interior minister Martynas Katelynas is set to discuss the migrant surge into Ceuta with EU counterparts, even though the Spanish enclave lies outside Schengen. Lithuanian case law also sharpened creditors' rights in personal bankruptcy cases, stressing that creditors must actively seek information, challenge transactions and monitor the administrator's decisions.
A convict was found murdered in a restroom at Marijampolė prison, prompting a pretrial investigation into the death. In the Vilnius district, three people were killed in a road crash, while a woman was found dead in a separate suspected murder case.
sources: vz.lt, tv3.lt, delfi.lt, lrt.lt, 15min.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Top stories
Crime
Revolver found in Vilnius, bullets in Biršonas, and a grenade in a Vilnius region meadow
Three dangerous finds surfaced in Vilnius, Birštonas and Vilnius district around August 4, including a revolver, ammunition and a hand grenade. In Lithuania, such items are handed to police, while explosives are typically dealt with by bomb disposal specialists. Investigators now need to determine whether the objects were recently dumped or came from older hidden stockpiles. That will decide whether the case ends with safe removal or opens a criminal probe into illegal possession of weapons or explosives.
Why it matters
Local residents, businesses and maintenance crews face the immediate risk, because each find can shut down access, traffic or work at the site. Police and bomb disposal teams carry the operational burden of checking, moving and destroying the items.
Who benefits
Police and bomb disposal specialists gain leads on possible illegal weapon caches, while the people or groups that stored or lost the items are exposed to enforcement risk.
What's next
The next step is a police determination on whether the finds are linked and whether a criminal investigation will open for illegal possession of weapons, ammunition or explosives.
sources:lrytas.lt
Crime
Two bodies found in Lithuania
Two bodies were found in Lithuania on August 4. Police typically take over such cases first, checking identities, cause of death and whether a criminal probe is needed. If investigators detect signs of violence or other criminal activity, prosecutors and forensic specialists step in.
Why it matters
It adds immediate work for police, prosecutors and forensic doctors, because each case needs fast identification and a cause-of-death check. For families, the findings determine funeral arrangements and whether the case moves into the criminal system.
sources:tv3.lt
Society
Fatal accident in Nemenčinė: a 3-year-old girl, her mother and the driver died
In Nemenčinė, a 3-year-old girl, her mother and the driver were killed in a crash. A similar fatal wreck was already recorded on the road to Nemenčinė on July 23, when a BMW driver tried to overtake, crossed into the oncoming lane and hit a truck. In cases like this, investigators focus on speed, sobriety and whether the manoeuvre was safe before impact. Under Lithuanian law, causing a fatal crash can bring up to seven years in prison, with tougher exposure if alcohol is involved. (lrytas.lt)
Why it matters
For the family, the crash means not only a loss but also a long investigation and court process over fault and punishment. For police and prosecutors, the key question is whether overtaking, speed or alcohol caused the collision. (lrt.lt)
sources:tv3.lt
Crime
Russian FSB officer is tried in Klaipėda court for espionage
Klaipėda prosecutors have sent a spying case to court against a Russian national they say acted as an FSB officer and spent years coordinating intelligence collection in Lithuania. Court files say he recruited local contacts who gathered data for Russian intelligence, and one earlier defendant in the wider case has already been handed a four-year prison term. The man faces up to 15 years if convicted, and the trial is being held in absentia. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The case matters for Lithuanian counterintelligence and the courts because it tests a years-long recruitment and collection network, not a one-off breach. A conviction would reinforce how Lithuania handles espionage cases involving covert handlers and defendants tried in absentia. (lrt.lt)
sources:delfi.lt
Economy
From information gathering to lawsuits: five steps creditors can take in a debtor's bankruptcy case
Creditors in a debtor bankruptcy case can ask the administrator for information, take part in creditor meetings, challenge transactions and, when needed, file claims over the debtor’s conduct or management decisions. Lithuanian case law has stressed that active participation can determine whether asset transfers, misleading accounts or other value-stripping moves are challenged in time. If a creditor sits out the process, part of the claim can end up unpaid and far harder to recover from the debtor’s estate. The practical lesson is simple: registering a claim is not enough, creditors have to keep watching the case and the administrator’s actions.
Why it matters
Less active creditors risk missing the chance to stop asset stripping or challenge transactions that shrink their recovery. The biggest winners are those who move quickly and use their right to information, while latecomers are the ones most likely to lose out.
sources:vz.lt
Politics
Martynas Katelynas to discuss events in Seuta with European ministers
Interior minister Martynas Katelynas is set to discuss the Ceuta crisis with European counterparts after the sudden migrant surge in the Spanish territory triggered calls for an EU-level response. Lithuania joined other member states in backing a video conference of interior ministers. Ceuta sits outside the Schengen area, but the incident has quickly become a test of how the bloc handles border pressure and irregular migration. Katelynas took office as interior minister in mid-July.
Why it matters
Lithuania’s border authorities have a stake because the Ceuta episode could harden the EU line on migration and border control, shaping future rules that also matter on the eastern frontier. It will also affect how quickly member states coordinate police and interior-ministry responses to sudden crossings.
sources:tv3.lt
Europe
Summary
Kramatorsk was hit today when Russian warplanes dropped two glide bombs on the city centre, pushing the number of injured to 24. The city lies about 15 km from the nearest Russian positions, and rescue crews were still checking damaged flats and other civilian buildings.
In the Sumy region, rescuers pulled the bodies of two girls from the rubble after Russia dropped eight bombs on a city target. Russian strikes in northeastern Ukraine also killed at least one person over the past day, with the Sumy and Kharkiv axis still exposed to missiles, glide bombs and drones. Sumy had already been struck on July 11, when four people were killed, including a 13-year-old girl, and another attack on June 30 wounded at least seven.
In Kherson, video circulating today showed a Russian drone chasing a 52-year-old man near the central market at about 6:45 a.m. Ukrainian police said he survived with shrapnel wounds, blast injuries and a concussion. On the outskirts of Odesa, Russian missiles struck near a market over the past day.
Ukraine has hit more than a dozen facilities linked to Wildberries near Moscow and St Petersburg over the past two weeks, and the latest strike killed at least five people. The attacks have disrupted cargo flows across several Russian regions. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has linked new Ukrainian operations to a security shake-up and told the SBU to remove officials serving interests other than Ukraine's.
Russia struck a children's hospital in Zaporizhzhia. Over the Baltic Sea, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft for the third time in days.
sources: delfi.lt, 15min.lt, lrt.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Air defence
Air defence covers the radar, missile and command systems used to intercept aircraft, drones and missiles. It is one of Ukraine's most critical needs because Russian strikes reach far beyond the front line.
Top stories
Politics
War in Ukraine. Russia dropped eight bombs on Sumy: bodies of girls recovered from the rubble
Rescuers pulled the bodies of two girls from the rubble in Sumy region after Russia dropped eight bombs on the target. The city has been hit repeatedly in recent weeks: a July 11 strike with guided bombs killed four people, including a 13-year-old girl, and a June 30 attack wounded at least seven. By early 2026, more than 16,000 tonnes of debris had already been cleared in Sumy, showing how much of the city remains scarred by the war. (pravda.com.ua)
Why it matters
Civilians in Sumy are now living under constant air-raid risk and rescue work in the rubble, with every new strike adding more dead, more wounded and another wave of displacement. For emergency crews, it means a heavier burden as they must keep searching for survivors while handling a growing mountain of destroyed buildings. (undp.org)
Who benefits
Russia’s military campaign and weapons supply chain gain, while Sumy civilians, rescue teams and local infrastructure bear the losses. (pravda.com.ua)
What's next
The next key step is the Sumy regional administration and State Emergency Service update on the death toll and the damage assessment. (pravda.com.ua)
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
Russians hunt civilians in Cherson: video shocks
A video circulating on social media on August 4 shows a Russian drone pursuing a 52-year-old local man near a market in central Kherson at about 6:45 a.m. Ukrainian police said he survived the attack with blast injuries, shrapnel wounds and a concussion. The footage fits a pattern in Kherson, where small attack drones have repeatedly been used against civilians in government-held territory. The UN rights mission said in June that short-range drone attacks have driven a sharp rise in civilian deaths and injuries in frontline areas.
Why it matters
Kherson residents are being forced to alter routes, cut back movement and hide from drone attacks even in the city centre. The strikes make market trade, ambulance work and basic commuting harder along the front line.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Zelensky speaks about new Ukrainian operations and SBU purges
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently tied new Ukrainian operations to a wider security-sector shake-up. In July, he said the leadership of the defense system needed to change and told SBU officials to remove people serving interests other than Ukraine’s. He has also pushed air defense, mobilization and drone warfare to the top of wartime priorities. The message is that Kyiv wants tighter internal control inside the security services while stepping up battlefield pressure.
Why it matters
Ukraine’s army and security services face pressure to deliver faster on both battlefield results and internal clean-up. If the reshuffle deepens, the SBU, the defence ministry and the war-production supply chain will feel it first.
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
Russians launched two glide bombs at Kramatorsk, 15 people injured
Russian warplanes dropped two glide bombs on Kramatorsk in Donetsk region on Aug. 4, injuring 24 people, local officials said. The city sits about 15 km from the nearest Russian positions, putting it within range of repeated air attacks on residential districts. Rescue crews were still working through the blast site as officials assessed damage to homes and other civilian buildings.
Why it matters
For residents of Kramatorsk, the attack adds pressure to leave a city where apartment blocks, shops and public services keep coming under fire. For hospitals in Donetsk region, it means another surge of casualties that must be treated immediately after the strike.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
War in Ukraine. Ukraine hit Wildberries warehouses near Moscow and Saint Petersburg
Ukrainian drones have hit more than a dozen Wildberries warehouses in Russia in the past two weeks, and the latest raid killed at least five people, AP reported. Wildberries is Russia’s biggest online retailer, and Kyiv says the long-range strikes are meant to hit Moscow’s war economy, not just military targets. The attacks have set logistics depots ablaze and disrupted cargo flows across regions, including the Moscow and St Petersburg areas. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
Russia’s logistics sector and thousands of small sellers using Wildberries get hit first, because inventory is destroyed before it reaches customers. The fallout shows up as slower deliveries, lost stock and higher costs that can filter through to Russian shoppers. (apnews.com)
Society
In northeast Ukraine, one person killed by Russian strikes
One person was killed in Russian strikes in northeast Ukraine, according to the latest report from the border region. The area is exposed to repeated attacks because it sits close to the Russian frontier and can be hit quickly with missiles, glide bombs and drones. Local officials usually report civilian casualties and damage to homes after such strikes. The latest blast again puts the Sumy and Kharkiv axis under pressure, two of the war’s most frequently targeted areas.
Why it matters
Civilians near the border face constant strike risk, and local hospitals and rescue crews have to respond to casualties and rubble after repeated attacks. It also forces municipal and military authorities to divert more resources to evacuations, air defense and repairs.
sources:15min.lt
World
Summary
Jerusalem saw a fresh Gaza push yesterday when a Trump Peace Council envoy urged Benjamin Netanyahu to halt strikes in the enclave. Israel rejected any early redeployment and insists Hamas must be fully disarmed before any withdrawal timetable takes effect.
In the Strait of Hormuz, an unidentified projectile hit a merchant vessel yesterday about 11 km north of Oman. The strike hit the main corridor for Gulf oil and LNG exports after earlier attacks in the waterway caused fires and crew injuries. In Tehran, Supreme Leader adviser Mohsen Rezaei said Iran had considered striking three targets in Ukraine after a strike near the Caspian Sea. Iran also summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires and accused Kyiv of a hostile act, while Ukraine says Tehran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones since 2022.
The Kremlin has sharply reinforced Vladimir Putin’s Valdai residence in Russia’s Novgorod region. Satellite imagery shows new air-defence sites, anti-drone nets and towers around the estate and its approach roads after Russia said Ukraine tried to hit the site in December 2025. U.S. stocks moved toward record territory today, led by Palantir, which jumped 26.8% after chief executive Alex Karp said quarterly revenue surged 93%. The U.S. Army has also burned through much of its stock of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles in the five-month war with Iran, forcing planners to assess how quickly industry can rebuild inventories.
Late developments were led by Wall Street, which closed higher after hints of a possible US-Iran deal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In sport, pressure built inside FIFA as UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC threatened to block decisions, while a new tournament is under consideration.
sources: 15min.lt, delfi.lt, lrytas.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt, vz.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow sea passage between Iran and Oman that links the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. A large share of the world’s seaborne oil and LNG exports passes through it.
Top stories
Politics
"There is nowhere to hide in Russia": even Putin's favorite corner has become a war zone
The Kremlin has sharply reinforced Vladimir Putin’s Valdai residence in Novgorod region as the war has widened into Russian territory. Satellite imagery and media investigations show new air-defence sites, anti-drone nets and towers around the estate and its approach roads. Russia said Ukraine tried to hit the site with drones in December 2025. Valdai, once a secluded retreat, has become one of the most heavily protected locations in the country.
Why it matters
The fortress built around Valdai shows Ukrainian long-range drones are forcing Russia to defend presidential sites and rear-area infrastructure, not just the front. That means more air-defence spending and fewer systems available elsewhere.
Who benefits
Ukraine’s military and intelligence services gain as Moscow is forced to spread air defences thinner, while Russia’s elite loses mobility and has to live under tighter security.
What's next
The next key question is whether Russia will further fortify Valdai after new drone strikes and whether Ukraine will try to reach the area again.
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Disagreements over Gaza withdrawal; Trump’s Peace Council reassures Israel
On August 3 in Jerusalem, a Trump Peace Council envoy met Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a new Hamas disarmament deal and urged Israel to halt strikes in Gaza. Israel said it would oppose any redeployment before Hamas is fully disarmed, warning the group could quickly rebuild its military network and threaten Israeli communities again. According to AP, Israeli objections have already been relayed to Tony Blair, who sits on Trump’s board. The U.S.-backed plan still hinges on a phased Israeli withdrawal, but the timetable and security terms remain disputed.
Why it matters
Gazans and hostage families are stuck waiting for two things that are still not aligned: Hamas disarmament and the pace of an Israeli pullback. If that gap stays open, fighting, aid delivery and any return to normal life remain uncertain.
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Iran planned to strike Ukraine; Khamenei adviser reveals what stopped them
A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader said Tehran had considered striking three targets in Ukraine, sharpening a feud already running through the Russia war. The remark came as Iran summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires over a strike near the Caspian Sea and accused Kyiv of a hostile act. Ukraine says Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. (aljazeera.com)
Why it matters
Ukraine’s military and civilians are exposed because Iran is already tied to Russia’s drone campaign, and fresh threats could widen the pressure on Kyiv. European diplomats now have another sign that the Iran-Ukraine row could spill beyond the Black Sea theatre. (aljazeera.com)
sources:tv3.lt
Economy
World stock markets: investors poised positively, Palantir jumps 26%
U.S. stocks moved toward record territory on August 4, led by Palantir, which jumped 26.8% after CEO Alex Karp said revenue surged 93% in the quarter. The broader tape was helped by another round of upbeat earnings and easing oil prices, which took some pressure off investors. The move added to a market mood that has been turning more constructive on risk, even as tech remains volatile.
Why it matters
The rally matters most for funds and retirement portfolios that are heavily exposed to U.S. growth stocks. Easier oil prices help transport, airlines and industrial companies, while trimming short-term returns for energy investors.
sources:vz.lt
Politics
US used almost all long-range missiles in the war with Iran
The U.S. Army has burned through much of its stock of high-end long-range missiles in the five-month war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data. The systems include ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles, weapons built for deep strikes and long-range fires. The depletion adds to earlier warnings that the Iran campaign has already drawn down Tomahawks and key air-defense interceptors. U.S. planners are now weighing how quickly industry can refill stocks that were never designed for this kind of sustained use. (reddit.com)
Why it matters
It raises risk for U.S. deterrence in Europe and Asia, where these missiles would be among the first tools needed in a major fight. Smaller stocks force the Pentagon to juggle an active Iran war with an urgent rebuild of production capacity. (reddit.com)
Politics
Unknown projectile hits a cargo ship in the Hormuz Strait
On Aug. 3, UKMTO received a report of an incident involving a merchant vessel about 11 km north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is already under intense scrutiny after a series of attacks on shipping in recent months, some of which caused fires and injuries. The strait is the main artery for oil and LNG exports out of the Gulf, so even a single strike can trigger wider shipping concerns. The key question now is whether carriers will slow or divert traffic while investigators try to identify who was behind the hit.
Why it matters
Shipping lines face higher insurance bills, tighter security costs and the risk of rerouting tankers and container ships. For buyers in Europe and Asia, any fresh incident raises supply risk through the Gulf’s most important export chokepoint.
sources:15min.lt