Term
NASAMS
NASAMS is a medium-range air defence system built to intercept aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and some drones. NATO members use it to protect wider areas than short-range systems can cover.
23 August 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
ESO had logged 2,974 faults by Sunday morning, with 218,245 customers still without power after Saturday’s storm. The worst damage was in the Kaunas region, about 9,000 customers were still without electricity in the Kėdainiai district, and ESO said full repairs in the hardest-hit areas could take up to a week. The government made power restoration the top priority, and the storm killed one person and injured three.
The Lithuanian military deployed a NASAMS medium-range air defence system near Vilnius today. Army chief Raimundas Vaikšnoras said it replaced the RBS-70 previously used there and gave the capital’s approaches stronger protection at longer range. President Gitanas Nausėda is in Kyiv today and repeated that Lithuania will support Ukraine after the war. At the Belarus border, 13 irregular migrants were turned back over the past day.
In Vilnius, a social media figure who posted about Islam remains jailed on suspicion of murder. The case stands out as authorities in the capital are also pursuing another recent online hate speech investigation. In Panevėžys, yesterday’s storm damaged the inflatable roof of the football arena at Beržų progimnazija, forcing an evacuation as city services decide on repairs and reopening.
President Gitanas Nauseda, speaking in Kyiv, urged the European Union to adopt a 22nd sanctions package quickly and step up pressure on Russia. He said only a Ukrainian victory would bring peace to Europe.
sources: delfi.lt, lrytas.lt, lrt.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt
Worth knowing
Top stories
Energy
This is really a catastrophic situation: more than 200 thousand people still without electricity
By Sunday morning, ESO had logged 2,974 faults and 218,245 customers were still without power after Saturday’s storm, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said. The heaviest damage was in the Kaunas region, where fallen trees and line breaks hit the grid hardest. Authorities said restoring electricity is now the top priority. One person was killed and three were injured in the storm.
Why it matters
Households without power face disrupted communications, heating and water supply, while some businesses have been forced to stop operations. A longer grid repair also means extra costs for municipalities, farmers and small firms that depend on steady electricity.
Who benefits
Power contractors, road crews and emergency services benefit from the surge in work, while households, municipalities and businesses dependent on electricity bear the losses.
What's next
ESO and local authorities must next update how many faults remain and when supply will be restored, after the prime minister made power recovery the top priority.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
To strengthen air space defense, the army deployed NASAMS near Vilnius
On August 23, 2026, the Lithuanian military deployed a NASAMS medium-range air defence system near Vilnius, replacing the short-range RBS-70 system previously used there. Army chief Raimundas Vaikšnoras said the swap gives the capital’s approaches stronger protection and a longer reach. The move comes as drone incursions have been recurring in NATO countries on the alliance’s eastern flank. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
Vilnius now has a better shield against aerial threats, which matters for the city’s transport links, public buildings and nearby residents. A medium-range system expands the defended area around the capital. (15min.lt)
Crime
Before taking a life, a 12-year-old searched the internet for answers: 'I would like to kill someone'
Police in Jelenia Góra are investigating the death of an 11-year-old girl, with a 12-year-old suspect already in custody, and local coverage this week has added fresh details to the case. Investigators are now piecing together the girl's contacts before the attack and whether her online activity could have been an early warning sign. The case has put renewed focus on juvenile violence and how quickly schools, parents and police can intervene. (rp.pl)
Why it matters
Schools and parents are left with the practical question of how to spot violent behaviour before it turns into a crime. The case also puts pressure on forensic psychologists, police and child-protection workers to move faster in other juvenile investigations. (rp.pl)
sources:lrytas.lt
Environment
Strong storm hits Kėdainiai: trees toppled, roofs torn, residents left without electricity
On August 23, Kėdainiai and its district were still dealing with the aftermath of Saturday’s storm, with about 9,000 customers without power and damage reported to roofs, fences, cars and roads. Local reports said a tree in Vainikų village ripped down power lines, while residents in the town saw torn roofing sheets and branches strewn across parking areas. ESO said about 219,000 customers were still without electricity nationwide on Sunday morning, and warned that full repairs in the hardest-hit areas could take up to a week. Fire crews and utility teams were still clearing fallen trees and dangerous debris, while officials urged people to keep away from downed power lines.
Why it matters
Households without power lost refrigeration and normal communications, while local manufacturers, especially food processors, faced immediate disruption. The longer repairs take, the larger the losses for businesses and the longer daily life remains interrupted.
sources:15min.lt
Crime
Islamic truths influencer jailed: suspected of murder in Vilnius
A social media figure who posted about Islam has been jailed in Vilnius on suspicion of murder. Lithuanian prosecutors have recently also moved against another Vilnius resident over violent hate speech online, showing how closely police are now watching public-facing accounts. The key question is what evidence investigators have and whether it will be strong enough to hold in court. The case is likely to stay under a spotlight because it mixes online influence with a murder probe.
Why it matters
For Vilnius police and prosecutors, this adds another high-profile case in which online reach matters as much as the underlying offence. The pressure falls on the suspect’s followers and on the platforms, which may face fresh scrutiny over moderation and cooperation with investigators.
sources:delfi.lt
Environment
Measures taken after storm-damaged football indoor arena in Panevėžys
A storm that hit Panevėžys on August 22 damaged the inflatable roof of the football indoor arena at Beržų progimnazija, and people inside were evacuated. The venue opened earlier this year and is the first of its kind in the Aukštaitija region. It is used daily for training, so the key question now is how badly the structure was hit and whether it must be shut down for repairs. City services must decide on the repair work and when it can safely reopen.
Why it matters
Youth teams, academy groups and club sessions depend on this arena for winter training. If repairs take time, Panevėžys football groups will need to find other indoor pitches.
sources:delfi.lt
Europe
Summary
Russian drone and missile strikes in Ukraine killed at least seven people yesterday, while a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Krasnodar region killed three in the same 24-hour period. A Russian drone also hit a passenger train in Ukraine, widening the range of civilian targets beyond the front line. The attacks came a day after a Russian strike on a shopping centre in Ukraine killed at least 16 people and wounded about 130.
Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Kyiv had opened a “Pandora’s box” by attacking Russian economic targets. He warned that Moscow would hit Ukraine’s most sensitive economic sectors and rejected Kyiv’s peace proposals as unacceptable. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today that Russia could send 300,000 newly mobilised troops first into the Donbas and later into a so-called buffer zone. He said a secondary axis could be the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions if Moscow builds up forces in Bryansk.
Ukraine says Russia has intensified ballistic missile attacks on the capital because Kyiv is short of US-made Patriot interceptors. Zelenskiy also said Putin had ordered the army to capture all of Donetsk and Luhansk by year-end, while Ukraine was reinforcing the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk approaches. A large fire broke out over the past 24 hours in an industrial zone in St Petersburg near military companies. Overnight Ukrainian drone attacks also set the Ozon logistics centre ablaze in Russia.
A German press report said NATO is working on a contingency plan for a Russian attack on the Baltic states, including an autonomous buffer zone near the borders. Allied aircraft trained over Estonia until today, and Latvia said earlier this month that NATO jets had shot down a foreign drone in its airspace. Gitanas Nausėda and Diana Nausėdienė arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day events, Flag Day commemorations, a Nordic-Baltic summit and a Coalition of the Willing meeting. European stocks are rising, but Verslo žinios says the bloc’s real economy remains weak as drought, wildfires and dried-up rivers add fresh risks to energy supply and logistics.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Germany will supply Ukraine with 600 Patriot interceptor missiles. Meeting in Kyiv with Baltic and Nordic leaders, Norway pledged nearly €8 billion in support for Ukraine.
sources: tv3.lt, lrt.lt, delfi.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Patriot missile system
Patriot is a US-made air and missile defence system designed to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles and some ballistic missiles. It is central to Ukraine’s defence of Kyiv against Russian ballistic attacks.
Top stories
Politics
Russia attacking the Baltic states – NATO plan: at the borders a no-go zone
A German press report said NATO is working on a contingency plan for a Russian attack on the Baltic states, including an autonomous buffer zone near the borders. The idea comes as allied aircraft have been training over Estonia through Aug. 23 and Latvia said NATO jets shot down a foreign drone in its airspace on Aug. 14. Lithuania’s defence ministry said on Aug. 7 that Moscow had not made a specific decision to attack, but possible provocations remain on the table. The practical focus now is on counter-drone defence, border surveillance and faster allied response times.
Why it matters
People living near the Baltic borders should expect more soldiers, air-defence assets and drone sensors on the ground, plus tighter airspace controls. Defence contractors and border-infrastructure suppliers stand to gain, while civilian aviation and local businesses may face more disruptions.
Who benefits
Defence contractors, border-infrastructure firms and NATO air-policing units gain, while border municipalities, civilian aviation and local businesses lose if restrictions tighten.
What's next
The key next step is whether NATO publicly confirms the planning in statements after Aug. 23 and what extra air-defence decisions allies announce for the eastern flank.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Zelenskiy explains where Putin will send 300,000 newly mobilized troops
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Russia could send 300,000 newly mobilized troops into two directions, first the Donbas and later a so-called buffer zone. He said one possible secondary axis was the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions if Moscow builds up forces in Bryansk. Zelenskiy also said Vladimir Putin has ordered the army to capture all of Donetsk and Luhansk by year-end. Kyiv says Russian losses are heaviest in Donetsk, where it is reinforcing the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk approaches.
Why it matters
People in Donetsk and Luhansk face a higher risk of fresh assaults and shelling near the front, while Ukraine's northern regions face more pressure on border defenses and evacuation planning. A longer, more intense fight also raises Kyiv's need for troops and ammunition.
sources:15min.lt
Politics
The Fight to Total Annihilation: Ukraine and Russia Have Entered a New Total War Phase
On August 22, 2026, Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least seven people in Ukraine, while a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Krasnodar region killed three, officials said. The same day, Vladimir Putin said Kyiv had opened a “Pandora’s box” by hitting Russian economic targets and warned Moscow would strike Ukraine’s most sensitive economic sectors. The violence came a day after a Russian strike on a shopping center in Ukraine killed at least 16 people and wounded about 130. Kyiv says Russia has stepped up ballistic missile attacks on the capital because Ukraine is short of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors.
Why it matters
Ukrainian civilians are paying the highest price as strikes increasingly hit shopping centers, rail lines, refineries and warehouses, not just the front. Rising damage to Russia’s economic base also raises pressure on fuel supplies, logistics and prices on both sides.
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
War in Ukraine: Putin threatens Ukraine again, 'They opened Pandora's box'
On Aug. 22, 2026, Vladimir Putin said in a televised interview that Kyiv had opened “Pandora’s box” by striking Russian economic targets, and warned Moscow would hit back at Ukraine’s most sensitive economic sectors. The remarks came after recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian warehouses and other infrastructure, including sites in the Moscow region. Putin also dismissed Ukraine’s peace proposals as exotic and unacceptable. The message was clear: Russia is not signalling restraint, but more pressure on Ukraine’s economy.
Why it matters
Ukrainian households and companies face a higher risk of power cuts, logistics disruptions and food-supply shocks if Russia broadens strikes into energy, warehousing and agriculture. The pressure could also spread to Black Sea export routes, which are vital to Ukraine’s revenue.
sources:lrt.lt
Economy
European stocks rise but economy stagnates: time to turn to the domestic market
European stocks were higher on Aug. 21, but Verslo žinios argues the real economy across the bloc remains weak. The piece points to drought and spreading wildfires as a fresh risk, alongside Middle East tensions, saying dried-up rivers can hit energy flows and logistics almost as hard as a geopolitical shock. The message for investors is that market gains do not equal economic strength, which is why domestic companies and home markets are back in focus. The article was published on Aug. 21 and is being treated as current market guidance. (vz.lt)
Why it matters
Industrials, logistics firms and energy importers are the first to feel the strain, because drought and transport disruption can raise costs and slow output. Domestic-demand names are better placed, since their earnings depend more on local buyers than on a fading European cycle. (vz.lt)
sources:vz.lt
Politics
Gitanas Nausėda arrived in Kyiv: we are always together
Gitanas Nausėda and first lady Diana Nausėdienė arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The president said he will spend the next two days at events marking Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, Ukraine’s Flag Day and a Ukraine-Nordic-Baltic summit. He also said he will meet Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The trip comes as Russia has stepped up strikes on Ukrainian cities and the UN says civilian casualties in 2026 have reached their highest level since the war began.
Why it matters
Ukrainian civil defence and air-defence supply chains stand to gain from high-level political backing in Kyiv. The visit puts extra weight behind Ukraine’s push for more interceptors and stronger protection as missile and drone attacks intensify.
sources:vz.lt
World
Summary
Yomif Kejelcha ran 56:51 for the half marathon in Buenos Aires on Sunday, taking back the world record by 29 seconds. The Ethiopian erased the mark Jacob Kiplimo set in Lisbon in March and regained a record he had also held after his 2024 run in Valencia.
Gaza rescue officials said two Israeli strikes in central Gaza killed three people on Sunday, including 4-year-old Mohamed Abdel Samal Taha. Seven other people were wounded in strikes on a building in Al-Zawayda and the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Israeli military said it was examining both incidents, while the U.S.-backed ceasefire in place since October 2025 has not stopped attacks in the enclave.
Iran on Saturday executed Majid Adineh after accusing him of helping the United States and Israel during January anti-government protests in Karaj. The judiciary said he was convicted of arson, collusion against internal security and operational activity for enemy groups, and that the Karaj Revolutionary Court also ordered his property confiscated. Tehran also warned neighbouring states that joining any new U.S. sanctions drive would be treated as a hostile act, with security official Mohsen Rezaei saying any country helping squeeze Iran's economy would be making an enemy move.
Iran separately condemned planned U.S. sanctions that could hit key trading partners including China. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said neighbouring states had sent messages about new regional security and economic arrangements, while rights groups have urged Tehran in recent days to halt protest-related executions and respect due process.
Gaza Strip rescuers said three people, including a child, were killed in Israeli strikes. The Trump administration said a trade war with the United States would be devastating for Canada.
sources: 15min.lt, vz.lt, delfi.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road race over 21.0975 kilometres. It is a standard athletics distance with its own officially ratified world records.
Top stories
Sports
Ethiopian runner Kejelcha dramatically improves the world half marathon record
Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha reclaimed the world half marathon record on Sunday with 56:51 in Buenos Aires. The run came at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires, a World Athletics Label road race, and sliced 29 seconds off the previous mark set by Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon in March. Kejelcha had already held the record once, after running 57:30 in Valencia in 2024. (worldathletics.org)
Why it matters
The result resets the benchmark for elite road racing and puts immediate pressure on rival stars preparing for autumn half marathons. It also raises the profile of the Buenos Aires race and similar World Athletics road events that use records to attract top fields. (worldathletics.org)
Who benefits
Kejelcha's camp and the Buenos Aires organisers gain, while Jacob Kiplimo and the rest of the record-chasers lose ground. (worldathletics.org)
What's next
World Athletics now has to ratify the 56:51 mark after the standard record verification and anti-doping checks. (worldathletics.org)
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Gaza Strip rescuers: three people, including a child, killed in Israeli strikes
Gaza rescuers said two Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza on Sunday killed three people, including a 4-year-old boy, and wounded seven others. One strike hit a building in Al-Zawayda and another struck the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Israeli military said it was looking into both strikes. A U.S.-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025 has not stopped Israeli attacks in the enclave. (investing.com)
Why it matters
Displaced Palestinians in central Gaza remain exposed to strikes in crowded areas packed with tents and damaged buildings. Each attack adds more wounded to hospitals that are already operating under severe strain. (investing.com)
Politics
Iran carried out death sentence on man accused of helping the US and Israel during protests
Iran executed Majid Adineh on Aug. 23, saying he had helped hostile groups, including the United States and Israel, during January anti-government protests in Karaj. The judiciary said he was convicted of arson, collusion against internal security and operational activity for enemy groups, and that the Karaj Revolutionary Court also ordered the confiscation of his property. The case lands amid a wider crackdown after months of unrest, with rights groups warning that protest-related death sentences are being used to intimidate dissent. Amnesty and other groups have also pressed Tehran this month to halt executions and respect due process. (dawn.com)
Why it matters
For families of detainees tied to the January protests, the case shows that the penalties now reach beyond prison terms to execution and asset seizure. It raises the stakes for anyone still facing national-security charges in Iran. (thenewregion.com)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Iran says any country's involvement in US sanctions will be seen as a hostile move
Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, warned on Saturday that any neighbour joining Washington’s effort to squeeze Tehran’s economy would be treated as an enemy move. Tehran also denounced new U.S. sanctions plans that could hit Iran’s key trading partners, including China. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran had received messages from neighbours about new regional security and economic arrangements. The exchange comes as Washington threatens consequences for any country giving Iran a lifeline. (1-e8259.azureedge.net)
Why it matters
Gulf states now face a sharper choice between Washington’s pressure campaign and their own trade and security ties with Tehran. Any spillover would hit oil shipping, payments and regional investment flows, especially if sanctions tighten around Iran’s largest buyers. (ca.investing.com)