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Robertas Kaunas said Russia is considering limited provocations against NATO to intimidate allies and weaken their resolve. Lithuania's defence minister said Moscow is relying more on hybrid tools than on a full-scale assault, and that Lithuania is coordinating its response with NATO partners. Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaikšnoras separately said there is no visible conventional attack threat to Lithuania right now.
Vilnius plans to finish the most visible street and public-space repairs before Lithuania starts its EU Council presidency in 2027. Priority sites include Gedimino Avenue, Švitrigailos, Pamėnkalnio and Pylimo streets, plus areas around parliament and Cathedral Square. Some of the work is being tied to wider surface and underground utility upgrades around state institutions. Lithuania is also preparing the joint presidency programme with Ireland and Greece, with EU competitiveness, criminal law and historical memory among the main policy files.
Lithuanian telecom operators blocked 2.78 million fraudulent calls in a quarter by filtering spoofed numbers initiated from abroad. The Communications Regulatory Authority said operators use number traits, call frequency and other technical criteria to stop part of the mass scam traffic before it reaches networks. The regulator had already said earlier this year that 13.8 million such calls and 2.12 million scam text messages were blocked in the first quarter alone. As fraudsters shift into SMS and short callback traps, pressure is growing on operators to widen filtering beyond voice calls.
Ukrainian forces struck just 19 km from Vladimir Putin's residence. Lithuania's finance minister said the Social Security surplus should be used for pensions only in a crisis.
sources: lrytas.lt, delfi.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt, 15min.lt
This is the rotating six-month role under which one EU member state chairs Council meetings and coordinates member states' work. The presiding country sets agendas, leads negotiations and represents the Council in dealings with other EU institutions.
Lithuania's defence minister Robertas Kaunas said Russia is weighing limited provocations against NATO to intimidate allies and weaken their resolve. He linked that assessment to intelligence showing Moscow is leaning more on hybrid tools than on a full-scale assault. Kaunas said Lithuania is calibrating its response with NATO partners and backing it with continuous intelligence reviews. Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaikšnoras separately said there is no visible conventional attack threat to Lithuania right now.
Why it matters
Border states and NATO air defence, intelligence and counter-sabotage units now have to plan for limited provocations as well as open conflict, because those moves can be deniable and fast-moving. The pressure falls on Lithuanian planners and allied forces that must sustain deterrence without triggering escalation.
Who benefits
NATO's eastern-flank militaries and intelligence services gain, while the Kremlin and its disinformation channels lose as their moves face tighter monitoring and coordinated pushback.
What's next
Lithuanian intelligence and NATO command will keep assessing whether Russia stays at the level of limited provocations or turns to concrete incidents near the alliance border.
Lithuanian telecom operators blocked 2.78 million fraudulent calls in a quarter, using filters set up with the Communications Regulatory Authority to catch spoofed numbers from abroad. The blocking relies on technical signals such as call patterns, number ranges and suspicious bursts of traffic. The regulator said earlier this year that 13.8 million such calls and 2.12 million scam SMS messages were blocked in the first quarter alone. As voice scams get squeezed, fraudsters are shifting more of their activity into SMS and short callback traps.
Why it matters
Households gain because fewer scam calls reach their phones, while fraud networks and the intermediaries that carry spoofed traffic lose. Cutting the call volume also reduces the odds that a target will hand over login details or wire money.
Vilnius is preparing for Lithuania’s EU Council presidency, due to start on Jan. 1, 2027, with a push to clean up the city centre and key public spaces by then. Earlier city plans put streets such as Gedimino Avenue, Švitrigailos, Pamėnkalnio and Pylimo among the priorities, along with areas around parliament and Cathedral Square. Some of that work is being coordinated with broader upgrades around state institutions, including surface works and underground utilities. The aim is to have the most visible repairs finished before the first major delegations arrive.
Why it matters
City-centre residents, drivers and bus passengers will feel the disruption first, because the works usually mean lane closures and slower trips. Hotels, restaurants and conference services stand to gain from the wave of officials and events that comes with the presidency.
Lithuania will hold the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2027 and is preparing the joint programme with Ireland and Greece. President Gitanas Nausėda told EU ambassadors on June 9 that boosting EU competitiveness will be one of the key priorities for the coming period. The justice ministry has also flagged criminal law and historical memory as major files for the presidency. Parliament is preparing its own premises for the diplomatic workload and plans renovations to receive European leaders.
Why it matters
The presidency will force ministries, parliament and diplomats to align on logistics, legislation and negotiating priorities over the coming months. It will shape how much leverage Lithuania can bring to EU decisions on competitiveness, enlargement and security.
Education minister Raminta Popovienė again defended her handling of the exam pass threshold and said the criticism does not bother her. She also addressed summer cases of teen violence, including the Marijampolė incident that spilled into public view, saying schools alone cannot control such episodes. Popovienė said violence is already banned in schools and that police and child protection services must also step in once incidents move beyond the classroom. Her comments come after months of backlash over the exam crisis and her decision to add 10 points to graduates' results.
Why it matters
For schools and parents, the message is that responsibility is shared once violence spills beyond the school gate. For graduates and their families, the exam-threshold dispute still matters because it affected university admissions and the value of their results.
Saulius Skvernelis has spoken publicly about his former aide Agnė Silickienė, who is drawn into the State Plant Service corruption probe, and about the political fallout from the accusations against him. Prosecutors have accused him of taking at least 51,000 euros in bribes, and investigators say the money may have been channelled through Silickienė. On July 10, Skvernelis was put under intensive supervision with an electronic ankle monitor, after investigators linked his contact with Silickienė to the case. His remarks also keep the relationship with President Gitanas Nausėda in the spotlight as one of the most sensitive angles in the affair.
Why it matters
The case hits the reputation of the Democrats for Lithuania and Skvernelis’ weight in parliament. It also risks widening into a broader fight over relations between the president and the governing bloc.
A drone strike on the Nizhnekamsk oil refinery in Russia's Tatarstan killed 13 people and wounded 48, making it one of Ukraine's deadliest attacks inside Russia since the full-scale war began. Ukraine's military said it hit the refinery in a city about 1,200 km east of the Ukrainian border that hosts two refineries and a petrochemical plant.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine would answer every Russian strike and keep up attacks on Russia's oil refining sector. He spoke after Ukrainian hits on several oil facilities deep inside Russia and after Friday's Russian strike that fired six ballistic missiles at civilian infrastructure in the Kyiv region. Zelenskiy also said the war would increasingly be felt inside Russia itself.
Ukraine said its air defences neutralised 92 of 126 Russian drones and three Banderol loitering munitions in an overnight attack. Some targets still got through, and Kyiv says tight interceptor stocks are putting more strain on its air shield. Overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian drones hit an air-defence target near Vladimir Putin's Valdai residence in Russia's Novgorod region, and the site burned for several hours. Investigators say Russia has built at least 27 air-defence positions around the residence, including 26 for Pantsir-S1 systems and one for an S-400 battery.
Aleksandar Vucic warned that Europe was moving toward a wider war and said the worst was still ahead. Serbia's president linked that risk to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and to a broader rush to rearm across Europe.
Ukraine lost a MiG-29 fighter in an accident over Odesa late on Sunday. Moldova moved after a Russian drone crash and recalled its ambassador from Moscow.
sources: lrt.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, lrytas.lt
The S-400 is a Russian long-range surface-to-air missile system designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles and some ballistic missiles. It is a core part of Russia's layered air-defence network.
Ukraine said its air defences neutralised 92 of 126 Russian drones and three Banderol loitering munitions in an overnight attack. Some targets still got through, leaving strike effects at several locations inside the country. Kyiv has been warning in recent days that interceptor stocks are tight, so each large raid puts more strain on its air shield. The episode adds urgency to allied deliveries of air defence missiles.
Why it matters
For Ukrainian civilians and energy sites, the key issue is not the interception tally but how many targets slip through and reach the ground. The thinner Kyiv’s missile stockpile, the greater the risk of damage to power and communications infrastructure during summer peak demand.
Who benefits
Russia’s military gains by exploiting Ukraine’s shortage of interceptors, while Ukrainian air defence units and grid operators absorb the pressure.
What's next
The next key step is Ukraine’s daily air force damage report and Kyiv’s renewed push for allied interceptor deliveries.
Overnight on August 10, Ukrainian drones hit an air-defence target near Vladimir Putin’s Valdai residence in Russia’s Novgorod region, and the site reportedly burned for several hours. The area around the residence is already heavily fortified, with investigators saying Russia has built at least 27 air-defence positions there, including 26 for Pantsir-S1 systems and one for an S-400 battery. The strike fits Ukraine’s growing campaign of deep attacks inside Russia, as Kyiv says Moscow is shifting air defences to shield key sites such as Valdai. That leaves Russia having to defend even the president’s own security cordon from repeated drone pressure. (meduza.io)
Why it matters
Ukraine’s long-range strikes force Russia to split air defences between the front, energy assets and the protection of presidential sites. That raises pressure on Russian military logistics and can leave other areas more exposed to drones and missiles. (washingtonpost.com)
A drone strike in Nizhnekamsk, in Russia's Tatarstan region, killed 13 people and wounded 48 on August 10, local authorities said. (elpais.com) Ukraine's military said it hit an oil refinery in the city, which sits about 1,200 km east of the Ukrainian border. (apnews.com) The attack was among the deadliest Ukrainian strikes inside Russia since the full-scale war began. (apnews.com) Nizhnekamsk hosts two refineries and a petrochemical plant, making it an important node in Russia's fuel and industrial chain. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
The strike matters because Nizhnekamsk sits in Russia's refining and petrochemical chain, which feeds domestic fuel supplies and logistics tied to the war economy. For residents, it means a higher civilian toll and more strain on emergency services in Tatarstan. (apnews.com)
Aleksandar Vucic warned in an interview that Europe is moving toward a wider war and said the worst is still ahead. He linked that risk to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and to a broader rush to rearm in Europe. The warning fits Serbia's long-running balancing act between Moscow and Brussels. Serbia remains on the EU track but has kept close ties with Russia and has resisted sanctions over the war in Ukraine. (rts.rs)
Why it matters
It puts pressure on Serbia's army, defence industry and young men if draft talk returns, while also making it harder for Brussels to pull Belgrade closer on foreign policy. (apnews.com)
On August 9, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address that Ukraine will answer every Russian strike and said an operation against Russian oil refining is still under way. The comments came after Ukraine hit several oil facilities deep inside Russia on August 6, while Russia struck Kyiv region again on August 8, firing six ballistic missiles at civilian infrastructure, AP reported. The exchange shows how both sides are now leaning harder on long-range attacks. Le Monde said Russia fired 28 missiles and 115 long-range drones at Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight on August 4-5.
Why it matters
Ukrainian civilians and the power grid remain the main target of Russian strikes, while Russia’s oil refining sector is increasingly becoming the focus of Ukraine’s retaliation. That raises the strain on air defences and pushes the war deeper into Russia’s wartime economy.
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 9 that Russia will increasingly feel the war at home, as overnight strikes by both sides killed at least seven people. The remarks came as Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks on Russian oil and logistics targets, while Moscow kept up its bombardment of Ukrainian cities. AP reported that Ukrainian drones have battered Russian oil facilities for months, and that strikes in Crimea are only the first phase of a wider campaign. The fighting is now biting deeper into Russia's own territory and its energy network.
Why it matters
Russian refineries and logistics hubs are becoming direct war targets, which can disrupt fuel supply, raise security costs and feed domestic pressure inside Russia. For Ukraine, the strikes provide leverage against Moscow at a time when shortages of air-defence missiles and interceptors remain a major constraint.
At least 18 people were killed in Pereira, Colombia, after a powerful earthquake, and rescue teams kept searching through rubble over the past day. The quake is the biggest non-European story now, with casualties still being counted and local authorities reporting heavy damage to buildings and infrastructure.
In Mali, an attack on a military base in the country's centre killed at least 10 soldiers and wounded several others. The assault extends a run of coordinated strikes by jihadist groups and separatists on army bases, convoys and strategically important towns. In historical context, an April assault near Kati outside Bamako killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara.
In Washington, the Pentagon told US defence contractors to accelerate weapons production and rebuild sharply depleted ammunition stockpiles. Officials said inventories were drained by operations against Iran and other recent military actions, and a memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg will shape the fiscal 2028 budget request to Congress. At the same time, Donald Trump renewed his attacks on Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, with the clash centring in part on El-Sayed's push to abolish the Senate filibuster.
In Britain, The Telegraph reported that cameras fitted to Royal Navy spy drones sent data to China while the equipment was being used in elite special forces operations through supplies routed via Kraken Technology Group. The disclosure comes as London is investing up to £400 million in a new fleet of military surveillance drones. In business, Jeff Bezos and partners agreed to buy a stake in Liverpool football club.
At least 69 people were killed in an earthquake in Colombia, with others still trapped under debris.
sources: lrt.lt, delfi.lt, 15min.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt
The filibuster is a US Senate procedure that can delay or block a vote unless a supermajority closes debate. In practice, it often means legislation needs 60 votes to advance.
Donald Trump blasted Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Las Vegas on Aug. 6, using a profanity-laced dig after veering off a tax speech, The Daily Beast reported. Trump repeated the attack on Truth Social the next day. El-Sayed swatted it away with sarcasm and pushed Trump's own words back at him. The fight now sits on a bigger issue: El-Sayed wants to scrap the Senate filibuster, a move Trump has also publicly attacked. (thedailybeast.com)
Why it matters
For Michigan Democrats and Senate race donors, the clash pushes the campaign further toward a national fight over the filibuster and Trump’s style rather than local policy. For Republicans, it gives them a clear foil in a candidate who is already becoming a national target. (thedailybeast.com)
Who benefits
Trump and Republican attack operatives gain a ready-made target, while Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign has to spend time and oxygen responding to the president’s insults. (thedailybeast.com)
What's next
The next question is whether El-Sayed’s team in Michigan responds with a sharper filibuster message or lets Trump’s attack set the tone. (thedailybeast.com)
On June 12, Ukrainian forces hit the Tatneft TANECO refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, one of Russia’s largest plants, with a reported annual capacity of more than 16 million tons. Kyiv has been stepping up long-range drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure as Moscow keeps pounding Ukraine, and fuel shortages have already been reported in Crimea and elsewhere. In Washington, Senate Democrats said on July 28 the Russia sanctions bill was the only measure with a realistic path forward, and senators later said they had reached agreement to move ahead. The bill targets Russia’s political leadership, banks and shadow fleet with mandatory sanctions.
Why it matters
Refineries and transport chains in Russia take a direct financial hit, while fuel disruptions ripple through the domestic market. The Senate bill would also hit banks, energy and shipping, widening the squeeze on export revenues and the intermediaries that move them.
The Pentagon on Aug. 9 pressed U.S. defense contractors to speed up weapons output and refill sharply reduced ammunition stocks. Officials said inventories were depleted by military operations against Iran and other recent actions. A memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg is set to shape the fiscal 2028 budget request that goes to Congress. The push lands as lawmakers are already fighting over the White House's request for a much larger Pentagon budget.
Why it matters
Refilling U.S. stockpiles affects how many missiles and other weapons Washington can send to Ukraine, the Middle East and its own forces in Asia. If industry cannot scale fast enough, the Pentagon faces a trade-off between thin inventories and slower military aid.
The Telegraph reported on August 9 that cameras fitted to Royal Navy spy drones used by Britain’s elite special forces were sending data to China. The equipment was supplied by UK-based Kraken Technology Group, which had sourced the cameras from a third party. The disclosure lands as Britain is pouring up to £400 million into a new fleet of military spy drones. It is likely to sharpen scrutiny of defence procurement and supply-chain checks across the British military. (reddit.com)
Why it matters
For Britain’s armed forces, the risk is that intelligence can leak through procurement and supply chains, not just through battlefield interception. That raises the security bar for special forces missions and forces tougher supplier vetting. (reddit.com)
At least 10 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base in central Mali, according to the latest report on one of the junta's most damaging security setbacks. The strike comes after a string of insurgent attacks in recent months that hit army positions, convoys and major towns across the country. In April, militants carried out a major assault near Bamako that killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara and exposed how exposed key state sites remain. The latest base raid suggests insurgents still have reach deep inside the country. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
The attack hits soldiers' families, civilians and local businesses in central Mali, where every base raid raises travel risk and disrupts supply lines. It also piles pressure on the junta in Bamako, which has to defend roads, garrisons and towns at the same time. (internazionale.it)