Term
State Security Department
The State Security Department, or VSD, is Lithuania’s civilian intelligence agency. It assesses threats to national security, including espionage, counter-intelligence and hostile influence operations.
1 September 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
Lithuania’s intelligence services and the VSD renewed warnings today that Russian information campaigns are targeting trust in state institutions and NATO. Rapid rebuttals and clear government communication are being treated as the first line of defence.
Field tactical drills called Strong Griffin 26 are due to take place in the Švenčionys district, with armoured vehicles, armed troops and pyrotechnics used in realistic readiness tests. This year’s scenario also folds in the ANBO drone capability to train links between unmanned reconnaissance, ground units and allied command chains. Neringa municipality has separately said naval drills called Storm Observer 2026 will run on September 7–11, with military vehicle movement and imitation munitions expected.
Social protection minister Inga Ruginienė presented a family support package to Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius today, including higher support for families, help for first-home buyers and free meals for younger children and primary school pupils. Sinkevičius said some measures could be implemented without adding pressure to the budget, and the government will now decide which proposals move into drafting and consultations. From today, student workloads are set by education ministry general plans rather than health ministry hygiene rules, and the government also backed scrapping the rule that would have required 10th graders to score at least 4 points in the PUPP assessment.
A cold front crossing Lithuania brought heavy rain, thunder and small hail, with Telšiai recording 34 mm of rain in about two hours. Streets flooded near Kaunas Akropolis, a landspout was filmed near Anglininkai in Biržai district at about 2:40 p.m., and wind gusts in Vilnius reached 15–17 m/s.
President Gitanas Nauseda voiced support for Germany late on Sunday after the drone incident, saying Russia's attempts to intimidate would fail. Lithuania's foreign policy team also backed Berlin and stressed allied unity.
sources: 15min.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, vz.lt, lrytas.lt, lrt.lt
Worth knowing
Top stories
Politics
The Kremlin targets Lithuanians' most sensitive area: aims to undermine trust in the state
On August 31, the prime minister marked Freedom Day and said Russia's war in Ukraine had shown that peace and independence cannot be taken for granted. In recent public assessments, Lithuania's security services have warned that Russian information campaigns are aimed at eroding trust in state institutions and NATO, stirring discord and weakening support for Ukraine. The VSD has also said these campaigns use social media and recycled claims about separatism and security threats in the Baltic states. The immediate stakes now are the government's response and speed, because counter-messaging and rapid debunking are part of the defense. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
The first targets are state institutions, journalists and politicians backing aid to Ukraine, because they must spend time rebutting false claims and explaining what is real. If trust erodes, it becomes harder to sustain support for defence spending and for aid to Kyiv. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Who benefits
Kremlin propaganda outlets and pro-Russian social media actors gain, while Lithuanian institutions, NATO messaging and backers of aid to Ukraine take the hit. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
What's next
The next step will be whether the VSD and the government publicly name new narratives in the coming weeks and whether the Seimas takes up extra anti-disinformation measures. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Important exercises ahead: military equipment to move in Lithuania
The Lithuanian military said today that the army will stage field tactical drills called Stiprus Grifonas 26 in the Švenčionys district. Armoured vehicles and troops carrying weapons will move through the area, and pyrotechnics will be used. The exercise is meant to test unit readiness in realistic conditions. Separately, Neringa municipality said naval drills called Audros stebėtojas 2026 will run on September 7-11, with vehicle movement and imitation munitions also expected.
Why it matters
For residents of Švenčionys district, the drills mean temporary traffic disruption and noise from pyrotechnics and moving armoured vehicles. Municipal officials and drivers need to plan around route changes, especially with more September exercises and restrictions appearing across different regions.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
International exercises Strong Griffin 26 integrate ANBO drone forces
Lithuania’s Strong Griffin exercise was run in October 2025, when about 1,500 Lithuanian and allied troops took part, and this year’s edition appears to fold in the ANBO drone capability. ANBO is a nod to Lithuania’s interwar aviation heritage, with 2025 marked as the year of ANBO and Lithuanian aviation builders on the 100th anniversary of the first ANBO aircraft. In military terms, the move points to a live test of how drones plug into ground units and allied command chains. It also gives the army a setting to work on reconnaissance and battlefield coordination with unmanned systems. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For Lithuanian ground forces and allied units, the shift means drones are being tested as part of the command-and-reconnaissance chain, which affects speed of response and target detection. For the defence sector and aviation community, the ANBO name gives the new capability a public platform tied to Lithuania’s aviation heritage. (15min.lt)
sources:lrytas.lt
Environment
Stormy September 1: rivers in streets, stairwells flooded, tornado-like winds recorded
A cold front crossing Lithuania on September 1, 2026, brought heavy rain, thunder and small hail, with Telšiai logging 34 mm in about two hours. Streets flooded in Kaunas, water built up near Akropolis, and residents near Anglininkai in the Biržai district filmed a landspout around 2:40 p.m. In Vilnius, rain arrived after 3 p.m. and gusts reached 15 to 17 m/s. Forecasters said showers eased in the capital later in the evening, though more rain was expected near midnight. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Flooded streets and stairwells briefly disrupted movement in Telšiai, Kaunas and Vilnius, while the downpour raised the risk of localised flooding in low-lying areas. That means slower traffic, water damage and extra pressure on storm-drain systems. (lrt.lt)
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Inga Ruginienė will present a family support package to the prime minister
Social protection minister Inga Ruginienė is set to present a family support package to Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius on 1 September 2026. Local reports say the plan covers stronger support for families, help with buying a first home, new incentives and meals for younger children and primary school pupils. Sinkevičius said on 1 September that some of the measures could be budget-neutral. The cabinet must now decide which items move into further drafting and consultations.
Why it matters
Young families and first-time home buyers could get more state support, which would directly affect housing access and day-to-day costs for households with children. If some measures are truly budget-neutral, the hit to public finances would be smaller than under a broad new benefits programme.
sources:15min.lt
Society
From September – important changes in the education system: powers for students and teachers.
From September 1, 2026, student workloads will be set by the education ministry’s general education plans, not by the health ministry’s hygiene rules. The government has also backed scrapping the former rule that would have forced 10th graders to score at least 4 points on the PUPP to pass. Officials say the changes shift more control into the education system and are meant to reduce the risk of students dropping out early. The ministry also says 1,460 teachers in vocational education still lack a teaching qualification, which keeps pressure on teacher training. (smsm.lrv.lt)
Why it matters
Schools gain more room to set daily study loads, while 10th graders face less risk of being blocked from the next stage of education by a single test threshold. The changes hit students, parents and teachers directly because routines for assessment and workload planning will have to be reset. (smsm.lrv.lt)
Europe
Summary
Russia struck a border post between Ukraine and Romania over the past day, pushing the latest wave of attacks to NATO's external frontier. In Kyiv and the surrounding region, at least 12 people were killed and more than a dozen wounded in an overnight Russian missile and drone assault. Ukraine's air force said Russia used ballistic and cruise missiles as well as 218 drones and decoys in the attack on the capital. In Boryspil, missiles and drones damaged an apartment block and a business facility, and local officials said the capital region had been attacked for a sixth straight day.
In Zaporizhzhia, a separate Russian strike killed two people. Reuters identified Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region as a key link in Ukraine's fortress belt because it connects other Ukrainian-held strongholds in Donbas. If that line breaks, Russia would be better placed to push deeper into the Ukrainian-held part of the region. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday that Moscow's May warning for foreign diplomats and nationals to leave Kyiv was still in force.
Estonian officials said several Ukrainian drones entered the country's airspace in the early hours of Tuesday, forcing NATO jets to scramble. The alert was lifted across Estonia around 5:30 a.m., and authorities said there was no damage to people or state property. A Vilnius court on Tuesday convicted two Belarusian citizens who hid ties to Russia's military industry and secured almost 0.5 million euros through an EU space programme project. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Tuesday that Moscow had no plans to attack NATO states, including the Baltics, while Zakharova separately threatened a decisive response to any hostile moves in the Baltic Sea.
Germany directly accused Moscow of a hybrid attack over a drone incident at Leipzig airport and imposed sanctions. NATO chief Mark Rutte said the alliance would defend against any threat, while Emmanuel Macron backed new sanctions on Russia.
sources: 15min.lt, lrt.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt, delfi.lt
Worth knowing
Term
EU Space Programme
This is the European Union's umbrella programme for satellite navigation, Earth observation and secure connectivity systems. It funds projects that can provide access to sensitive technology and geospatial data.
Top stories
Politics
Zacharova threatens: warned to leave Kyiv
Maria Zakharova said at the Eastern Economic Forum on 1 September 2026 that Moscow’s May advice for foreign diplomats and nationals to leave Kyiv was still in force. She tied the warning to sustained Russian strikes on Ukraine’s military infrastructure and cast them as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian regions. The comments came after a major overnight assault on Kyiv and surrounding areas that killed at least 12 people and wounded more than a dozen. Ukraine’s air force said Russia used ballistic and cruise missiles, along with 218 drones and decoys, in the attack. (tv3.lt)
Why it matters
Foreign diplomats, aid groups and foreign firms still in Kyiv are being pushed to reassess security and evacuation plans after a night strike that killed civilians. The warning also signals that Russia is openly framing the Ukrainian capital as an ongoing target, which raises the operational risk for anyone remaining there. (tv3.lt)
Who benefits
Russia’s authorities gain a propaganda line that frames the strikes as retaliation, while foreign diplomats, aid groups and companies operating in Kyiv bear the higher security and relocation costs. (tv3.lt)
What's next
The next concrete step is whether foreign missions and international groups keep staff in Kyiv after the 1 September missile and drone assault. (apnews.com)
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
Estonia's defense minister: Ukrainian drones flew into the country’s airspace
Several Ukrainian drones entered Estonian airspace in the early hours of Sept. 1, forcing NATO jets to scramble, Estonian officials said. The air threat alert was lifted across the country around 5:30 a.m., and Tallinn said there was no damage to people or state property. Officials linked the episode to Ukraine's strikes on western Russia and used it to press again for stronger air defenses. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said allied forces responded swiftly and as planned. (news.err.ee)
Why it matters
For Baltic air policing and local residents, the immediate effect is another night of alerts and fighter jets launched on short notice. For Tallinn, it strengthens the case for more air-defence capacity and faster allied coverage over the region. (news.err.ee)
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
War in Ukraine. Reuters: Russia approaches one of Ukraine's fortresses in Donbas.
On Sept. 1, Reuters reported that the war is edging closer to Druzhkivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The town sits on a road that links key cities in the so-called fortress belt, the defensive line Moscow is trying to crack in its push through Donbas. If that line gives way, Russia would be better placed to push deeper into the Ukrainian-held part of the region. (international.astroawani.com)
Why it matters
For Druzhkivka residents, a closer front line raises the risk of shelling and forced evacuation. For Ukraine’s army and regional authorities, every breach in the fortress belt makes supply lines and city defence harder to hold. (international.astroawani.com)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
During a massive Russian rocket and drone strike on Kyiv, four people were killed.
At least four people were killed and more than a dozen wounded in Russia’s overnight missile and drone assault on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Sept. 1, 2026. One death was reported in Boryspil after missiles and drones damaged an apartment block and a business facility, while three people were killed in the capital. Local officials said the area had come under attack for a sixth straight day. The assault came as schools were preparing to reopen after the summer break. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
For Kyiv residents, the immediate cost is more damage to housing, workplaces and transport during the school reopening period. The repeated strikes keep local authorities on heightened alert and force more disruption to daily life. (lrt.lt)
Politics
Belarusians tied to Russian military industry tried to hide it and even received EU support: now a decision has come
A Vilnius court on 1 September 2026 convicted two Belarusian citizens who investigators said hid ties to Russia’s military industry while using a Lithuania-based company to take part in a European Union Space Programme Agency project. Authorities said the pair falsely claimed they had no links to sanctioned firms and secured almost 0.5 million euros. The court said that concealment could have given them access not only to EU funding but also to EU markets and spatial geographic data. One of the defendants also obtained Russian citizenship in 2020 or 2021 and held significant stakes in other companies tied to military programmes in Russia and Belarus. (lrytas.lt)
Why it matters
The case shows how EU grants and technical data can end up with firms that conceal links to Russia’s sanctioned military sector. That creates a risk for the EU budget and for sensitive space and geospatial data used by institutions and companies. (lrytas.lt)
Politics
Russian deputy minister denies plans to attack Baltic states: USSR acknowledged independence
Russia has no reason, plans or need to attack NATO states, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on September 1 at the Eastern Economic Forum, explicitly naming the Baltics. He argued that the Soviet Union had already recognised the independence of the Baltic states and that they left peacefully. The comments came as Western and Baltic officials kept warning that Moscow could be weighing action against NATO members. On the same day, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova threatened a decisive response to any hostile moves in the Baltic Sea. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The key issue is not the denial itself but the gap between Moscow’s public line and the warnings from NATO capitals and intelligence services. That makes any incident in the Baltic Sea more likely to trigger a fast military and diplomatic response. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
sources:lrt.lt
World
Summary
A tanker leaving the Strait of Hormuz was hit by three unknown projectiles today about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab in Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said there were no injuries and no environmental damage.
In Tehran, an ultra-conservative politician called today for pre-emptive strikes on U.S. interests in the Gulf after the U.S. hit Iran's Larak island yesterday and Iran fired missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan overnight. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would return to the June interim ceasefire deal if Washington did the same. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned yesterday after 18 months in the job, with the White House confirming his departure amid Pentagon tensions around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Democratic Republic of Congo had confirmed 6,041 Ebola cases and 2,911 deaths by yesterday, with 619 people still isolated or in care. The World Health Organization said the outbreak has spread to a sixth province, with Ituri accounting for most cases and deaths. In Nepal, the flood death toll rose to 1,050, taking the combined toll in Nepal and Tibet to 1,066.
In Los Patios in northeastern Colombia, a car bomb late yesterday killed one civilian and wounded 11 people outside a police station. Police said the stolen vehicle had been repainted to look like a taxi, detonated remotely and packed with about 80 kg of explosives. In Oslo, Queen Mette-Marit walked with Queen Sonja behind King Harald V's coffin today as King Haakon VIII took over a monarchy under pressure from scrutiny of her past contact with Jeffrey Epstein and her stepson's rape conviction.
The U.S. military struck Iran after attempted attacks on ships. Iran then declared a decisive operation and attacked U.S. bases with missiles and drones. Donald Trump warned of much stronger action if Iran responds further.
sources: delfi.lt, lrt.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world's most important oil shipping chokepoints. Any attack or disruption there can quickly affect freight costs, insurance rates and energy markets.
Top stories
Politics
Iran war. UK maritime agency: three unknown projectiles hit a tanker in the Hormuz Strait
On September 1, the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said a tanker sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz was hit by three unknown projectiles about 17 nautical miles east of Oman's Khasab. No injuries and no environmental damage were reported, and the incident is under review. The strike comes amid fresh military escalation between the United States and Iran. The strait is one of the world's most sensitive shipping lanes for oil.
Why it matters
Oil traders and insurers now face a higher risk premium on a route that carries critical cargo for global markets. Port and shipping firms on Oman's coast may have to tighten security checks and absorb possible delays.
Who benefits
Oil producers and maritime security firms may gain, while importers and consumers exposed to higher fuel costs lose.
What's next
The key next step is the UKMTO and Omani investigation, which must determine the origin of the projectiles and whether any party can be identified as responsible.
Politics
Iranian politician urges to strike preemptively at the United States
An ultra-conservative Iranian politician on Sept. 1 called for pre-emptive strikes on U.S. interests in the Gulf, arguing that pressure could force Washington to retreat and lift its blockade. The appeal came after the U.S. struck Iran’s Larak island on Sunday and Iran fired missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan overnight. In parallel, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would mirror U.S. steps if Washington returned to the June interim ceasefire deal. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said new bank sanctions could be announced this week.
Why it matters
The escalation puts Gulf shipping, oil flows and U.S. bases in the region at immediate risk. Any fresh strikes or sanctions would raise insurance and transport costs and could spill into wider energy markets.
sources:delfi.lt
Crime
One person killed and 11 injured after a car bomb explodes near a Colombian police station
A car bomb exploded late on August 31 outside a police station in the northeastern Colombian town of Los Patios, killing one civilian and wounding 11 people, including two police officers. One officer had part of a leg amputated, and the blast damaged the station. Police said the vehicle had been stolen, repainted to look like a taxi and detonated remotely. They said it carried about 80 kg of explosives.
Why it matters
Residents in border towns and police officers are now exposed to direct attacks by armed groups fighting for control of drug trafficking routes. It also strains local emergency services, with the wounded needing urgent treatment and one officer requiring an amputation.
sources:15min.lt
Health
Congo confirms more than 6,000 Ebola cases
The Democratic Republic of Congo had confirmed 6,041 Ebola cases and 2,911 deaths by Aug. 31, with 619 people still isolated or in care. WHO said on Aug. 24 the outbreak had become the country’s fastest-growing on record and had spread to a sixth province, with Ituri accounting for most cases and deaths. Health workers started receiving the Ervevo vaccine on Aug. 27 in some areas, but it is not known whether it protects against the current Bundibugyo strain. WHO has kept the outbreak classified as a public health emergency of international concern. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Hospitals and displacement camps in eastern Congo bear the brunt because conflict, population movement and weak sanitation make contact tracing, isolation and safe burials much harder to sustain. Neighbouring countries face a higher risk of imported cases at border crossings and more pressure to screen febrile travellers quickly. (who.int)
sources:lrytas.lt
Politics
U.S. Army Secretary Driscoll resigns.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after 18 months in office, the White House said on August 31. He had been sworn in on February 25, 2025, as the 26th secretary of the Army. His exit comes as tensions inside the Pentagon have escalated around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior military leadership. The White House said Driscoll helped advance Army readiness and took part in Russia-Ukraine talks. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
A change at the top can slow personnel, procurement and readiness decisions, all of which run through the Army’s civilian leadership. NATO allies and Ukraine will be watching closely because Washington’s military and diplomatic line now depends on who Trump picks next. (en.wikipedia.org)
sources:delfi.lt
Culture
The most scandalous queen in the world: Epstein’s friend and mother of a convicted rapist
Queen Mette-Marit joined Queen Sonja behind King Harald V’s coffin in Oslo on September 1, as the royal procession moved to the chapel. The new king’s first challenge is to steady the monarchy after fresh scrutiny over Mette-Marit's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein and her stepson's rape conviction. She has been largely out of sight since a lung transplant in June.
Why it matters
The Norwegian monarchy now has to protect its authority while public confidence depends on King Haakon VIII’s ability to separate the institution from family scandal. Scrutiny over Mette-Marit's Epstein contacts and her son’s case hits the palace’s image most directly, and that shapes how Norwegians view the crown they fund.
sources:delfi.lt