Law
Constitution of Lithuania
Lithuania’s constitution is the country’s supreme law, setting out the state’s institutions, powers and fundamental rights. Amendments face a high threshold and usually require repeated parliamentary votes.
9 September 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
Vilnius Regional Court on Tuesday extended the remand of Kyrgyz national Mukhamad Ali Nurkulov by another three months in a terrorism financing or support case. His previous detention order had been due to expire on Sept. 21, and this is the second extension in the case.
Lithuania’s parliamentary legal committee backed a constitutional amendment that would remove the ban on weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases from the basic law. The proposal already passed its first reading in the Seimas with 89 votes in favour, 11 against and six abstentions. Defence plans also set out 2.03 billion euros for air surveillance, air defence and electronic warfare between 2026 and 2030. The government links that build-up to its commitment to host a German brigade in Lithuania by 2027.
A Vilnius court sentenced priest Tadas Svedavicius to 14 years in prison for sexual crimes against children. Prosecutors said the case involved 11 victims and offences spanning 2002 to 2025. On the coast, lifeguards renewed safety warnings after a man in Nida ignored a red flag and swam toward a boat-hauling structure. Rescuers in Palanga also warned that currents near the pier can pull swimmers under the structure and that the depth changes sharply there.
ISM University of Management and Economics said its Master’s in Global Leadership and Strategy ranked 47th in the Financial Times 2026 Masters in Management table. It is the first Lithuanian university programme ever to enter the ranking and the first from the Baltics to make the global top 100.
Lithuania's government approved its programme implementation plan, while a Seimas commission will investigate nepotism in the public sector. BMW recalled nearly 190,000 popular models, prompting drivers to check whether their cars are affected.
sources: delfi.lt, 15min.lt, tv3.lt, vz.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Top stories
Crime
In a case of terrorism financing a Kyrgyz national in Vilnius is remanded for another three months
Vilnius Regional Court on September 9 extended the remand of Kyrgyz national Mukhamad Ali Nurkulov by another three months. He is accused in Lithuania of financing or supporting terrorism and had a temporary residence permit. His current detention order was due to expire on September 21, so prosecutor Rimas Juodis asked for the maximum extension last week. The court has now kept him in custody while the case moves on.
Why it matters
For prosecutors and judges, the ruling keeps the suspect in custody through the autumn while the case is prepared. It also puts temporary-residency checks in focus, since the defendant was living in Lithuania legally before his arrest.
Who benefits
Prosecutors and investigators gain easier control of the process, while the suspect loses personal freedom and the option to await trial outside custody.
What's next
The next checkpoint is a fresh review of the detention order, with the court having to decide whether custody remains justified after September 21, 2026.
sources:15min.lt
Environment
In a Baltic Sea resort popular with Lithuanians, deadly danger as warnings fail to deter people
Nida’s beach guards recorded a dangerous incident on Aug. 12, when a man in his 30s entered the sea despite a red flag and three-beaufort waves and swam toward a structure used to haul boats ashore. The Neringa municipality said the same man may have been warned before, and the lifeguards urged visitors to take their instructions seriously. In nearby Palanga, rescuers have also warned that strong currents near the pier can pull swimmers under the structure and that the depth changes quickly. The danger is highest where beachgoers ignore warning signals and go into the water anyway.
Why it matters
For beachgoers, the risk is immediate and physical: one bad decision in rough water can turn into a rescue or a drowning in minutes. For lifeguard crews, repeated rule-breaking stretches response capacity and puts more pressure on the busiest stretches of coast.
sources:delfi.lt
Crime
Priest who abused children for years has been sentenced to 14 years in prison
A Vilnius court has sentenced priest Tadas Švedavičius to 14 years in prison in a case involving sexual crimes against children. The case was sent to court in August, when prosecutors said it involved 11 victims and alleged abuse spanning from 2002 to 2025. Earlier reporting said Švedavičius had admitted guilt and was cooperating with investigators. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
For the victims, the first-instance ruling opens the way to compensation claims and a longer legal reckoning over abuse that prosecutors say stretched across two decades. For the Vilnius archdiocese, it raises the cost of explaining how a priest accused of crimes against children was able to remain in ministry for so long. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
Doomsday clock ticks faster than Lithuania’s army plans
Lithuania plans to spend 2.03 billion euros on air surveillance, air defence and electronic warfare between 2026 and 2030, with defence still a top priority during its EU Council presidency. The defence ministry says NATO planning now puts more weight on host-nation support and civilian enabling capabilities. That links the armed forces’ build-up to concrete funding, not just statements of intent. The government has also tied the spending push to taking in a German brigade by 2027. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
These decisions affect air-defence coverage, the link between the military and civilian infrastructure, and Lithuania’s ability to host allied forces on time. Any slippage would leave the country weaker against air and electronic threats and slow NATO plans in the region. (15min.lt)
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Parliament committee will consider proposal to amend the Constitution and remove the provision on nuclear weapons
The Seimas Legal Affairs and Legal Affairs Committee will examine on Sept. 9 a proposal to delete from the constitution the clause that bans mass-destruction weapons and foreign military bases in Lithuania. The amendment cleared an initial parliamentary vote in early July, with 89 lawmakers in favour, 11 against and six abstaining. Backers argue the current wording no longer fits the security environment, and Speaker Juozas Olekas has tied it to NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture. The issue is set to return to the chamber when the autumn session opens on Thursday. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
If the proposal advances, it could loosen a constitutional constraint that now shapes defence planning and port access rules. That would matter most to the government, the military and lawmakers who have already lined up against the change. (15min.lt)
Economy
ISM studies among the world’s top 50: ranks in Financial Times
ISM University of Management and Economics has landed at 47th place in the Financial Times 2026 Masters in Management ranking, the first Lithuanian programme ever to enter the list. It is also the first programme from the Baltics to make the global top 100. ISM says the course ranked seventh worldwide for value for money, with alumni pay rising 53% on average three years after graduation. The school is marking the result with a campus event in Vilnius on Sept. 29. (ism.lt)
Why it matters
For graduates, the ranking gives the degree more weight in global hiring, because the FT measures salary growth and study costs. For Lithuanian employers, it is a clearer sign that the programme is producing managers who can compete abroad. (ism.lt)
Europe
Summary
Ukraine said it hit Russia’s Novorossiysk naval base overnight and struck other military sites along the Black Sea coast. Kyiv said drones destroyed a Su-33 fighter and a Mi-8 helicopter near Anapa, and hit the Kasta 2E2 and 92N6 radar systems near Gelendzhik. Russian authorities said four people were killed in the Ukrainian drone strike on Novorossiysk.
Russia struck Dnipro overnight and rescuers pulled three people from the basement of a damaged house. Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional administration, said the attack also set fires at a building materials warehouse and a private home, and crews were still searching the wreckage at daybreak. A suspected Russian drone crossed Moldovan and Romanian airspace yesterday, prompting Romania to scramble military aircraft and briefly halt traffic at Iași airport. Romania’s defence ministry said the drone crashed near Mihăileni Vechi, about 25 km from the Romanian border, while Moldovan officials said a small flying object sparked dry vegetation nearby.
Ukraine’s General Staff said today that Russia’s cumulative combat losses since the full-scale invasion began had passed 1.5 million personnel. The daily update also reported another 1,480 killed and wounded over the past 24 hours and 263 clashes along the front. Russian forces are now less than 15 km from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, two key cities in Donetsk region, which are being hit more often by drones and guided bombs. Ukrainian forces have also expanded the use of remote-controlled tracked and wheeled vehicles that can carry up to 300 kg and, if needed, mount a 12.7 mm machine gun for frontline logistics.
Norway's prime minister said a drone almost hit Volodymyr Zelenskiy's plane on its way to Oslo. Ukrainian special operations forces also reported a record long-range strike inside Russia, hitting a target nearly 3,000 km away.
sources: delfi.lt, lrt.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Su-33
The Su-33 is a Russian carrier-capable fighter designed for naval aviation. It is the maritime variant of the Su-27.
Top stories
Politics
Jet Su-33, Mi-8 helicopter and ships: Russia suffers major losses overnight
Ukraine says its Unmanned Systems Forces hit Russia’s Novorossiysk naval base overnight on Sept. 8-9, damaging several vessels and striking military sites along the Black Sea coast. Ukrainian commanders also said drones destroyed a Su-33 carrier-based fighter and a Mi-8 helicopter near Anapa, while two radar systems were hit near Gelendzhik. The claims were posted on Sept. 9 and have not yet been independently confirmed by Moscow. The strike adds to pressure on Russia’s Black Sea infrastructure, which has already been pushed back from Sevastopol toward Novorossiysk. (pravda.com.ua)
Why it matters
The Black Sea Fleet faces fresh pressure on its air defence, vessels and coastal logistics. If the Ukrainian claims hold, Russia’s ability to shelter missile carriers and protect key ports in Krasnodar Krai gets weaker. (pravda.com.ua)
Who benefits
Ukraine, especially its unmanned systems units, gains; Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, naval aviation and coastal air defence lose. (pravda.com.ua)
What's next
The next key checkpoint is whether Russia’s Defence Ministry and Krasnodar regional authorities confirm losses of ships, aircraft or radars in Novorossiysk, Anapa and near Gelendzhik. (pravda.com.ua)
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Ukraine war. Russia struck Dnipro: three people pulled from rubble
Overnight on September 9, Russian forces struck Dnipro and rescuers pulled three people from the basement of a damaged house. The strike also sparked several fires, including at a building materials warehouse and a private home, according to regional officials. Emergency crews were still checking the wreckage at daybreak for anyone else trapped inside. (newsukraine.rbc.ua)
Why it matters
For Dnipro residents, the attack is another direct hit on homes and a reminder that basement shelters can be the difference between life and death. The rescue effort now determines whether anyone else remains trapped as crews clear unstable debris. (newsukraine.rbc.ua)
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
In Ukraine on the battlefield more than 1.5 million Russian soldiers have been destroyed since the invasion began
On September 9, 2026, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia’s total combat losses since the start of the full-scale invasion had topped 1.5 million personnel, after another 1,480 killed and wounded in the previous 24 hours. The same daily update said there were 263 clashes on the front line and continued drone attacks across multiple sectors. A day earlier, Kyiv put the cumulative toll at 1,499,390, so the 1.5 million mark was crossed overnight. (pravda.com.ua)
Why it matters
For Ukraine, the figure points to sustained Russian attrition that keeps forcing Moscow to find fresh manpower and equipment just to hold the pace of the war. For Russia’s army, that means more strain on recruitment, rotations and replacement losses. (pravda.com.ua)
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Ukraine finally receives these battle machines after four years of waiting
Ukrainian forces have begun using more remote-controlled tracked and wheeled vehicles that can haul up to 300 kg and, if needed, mount a 12.7 mm machine gun. Kyiv has already codified the systems for military use and has talked about contracting tens of thousands in the first half of 2026. The machines are being pushed into frontline logistics because drone threats make ammunition runs and casualty evacuation far more dangerous for soldiers. Western observers say the war is shifting away from tank charges and toward robotised transport and small manoeuvre units. (mod.gov.ua)
Why it matters
For Ukrainian infantry units, these systems cut the risk to troops who would otherwise have to drive into exposed drone zones with supplies or wounded soldiers. For Europe’s defence industry, they point to fresh demand for remote-control platforms, communications gear and battlefield robots. (mod.gov.ua)
sources:lrytas.lt
Politics
Ahead is a battle for Donbas: this year’s hardest period expected
Russian forces are now less than 15 km from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, two key cities in Donetsk region, 15min reported on Sept. 9, citing Reuters. The pair sit inside Ukraine's fortified belt and are being hit more often by drones and guided bombs as Russian units edge closer. CNN said Ukrainian troops are now more often on the defensive across the eastern front than they were in the spring. ISW analyst Jenny Olmsted said the balance has shifted in Moscow's favour, though she sees no sign of a quick breakthrough.
Why it matters
Sloviansk and Kramatorsk are among Ukraine's last major strongholds in Donetsk, so the pressure on them threatens civilian evacuation, supply lines and the integrity of the remaining defence belt. Any further Russian advance would raise the intensity of strikes on residential areas and transport hubs.
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Suspected Russian drone breached Moldovan and Romanian airspace
On Sept. 8, 2026, a suspected Russian Shahed-type drone crossed Moldovan airspace at 4:20 p.m. local time and then entered Romania, triggering air raid alerts along the frontier before disappearing from radar. Romania’s defence ministry later said authorities were told the drone had crashed in Mihăileni Vechi, about 25 km east of the Romanian border, while Moldovan officials reported a small flying object had fallen nearby and sparked dry vegetation. Romanian military aircraft were scrambled and Iași airport briefly halted takeoffs and landings until the drone moved out of the area. The incident is the latest in a string of cross-border airspace violations near Ukraine, which regional governments link to Russia’s war. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For people living near the Moldovan and Romanian borders, the immediate effect is airport disruption, emergency alerts and the prospect of being told to shelter when drones drift across from the war in Ukraine. For Moldova, it means another direct security incident that forces police and the military to check areas where armed drones may come down. (kyivindependent.com)
World
Summary
Iran said on Wednesday it struck a US military base in Jordan, and Jordan's army said it intercepted 18 missiles. US forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday after attacks on American warships in the Gulf. Washington also hit Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island near Hormuz over the past week. Tehran threatened shipping off Kuwait and Bahrain, and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG flows, is close to paralysis.
Russia said it shot down 596 Ukrainian drones overnight across its regions and annexed Crimea. In Novorossiysk, four people were killed, 29 were wounded and a fire broke out at the port. The port is a key outlet for Russian oil, fuel products and grain exports. In Ukraine's Kherson region, Russian drone strikes on Wednesday morning killed a man and a 55-year-old woman in the Korabelnyi district. A separate strike in Komyshany wounded a 34-year-old man.
The Kremlin said Donald Trump used a one-hour call to urge Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine quickly and offered a restoration of US-Russia ties. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said both sides viewed that idea positively, but the White House has not confirmed the conversation. Moscow is still demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Kyiv-held part of Donetsk. Sergei Lavrov also repeated that Ukraine should stay neutral and outside NATO.
A Ukrainian drone struck Russia’s Arctic region nearly 3,000 km from the Ukrainian border. Iranian state media also reported an explosion in the country’s south near the Strait of Hormuz.
sources: delfi.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt, lrt.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway linking the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the world's most important chokepoints for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Top stories
Politics
Iran war. US destroyed 5 Iranian tankers
U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard targeted an American warship in the Gulf region. Lithuanian outlets said the strike followed earlier U.S. attacks on three other tankers, and Tehran responded by threatening vessels off Kuwait and Bahrain. Iran then said it hit a U.S. base in Jordan, where the army said it intercepted 18 missiles. The standoff has pushed the Strait of Hormuz, which usually carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG flows, into near paralysis. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
Brent and WTI have already climbed to almost $100 a barrel, so the strikes feed straight into fuel prices and shipping costs in Europe. The biggest exposure sits with shipping lines, crude buyers and states that rely on flows through the Strait of Hormuz. (15min.lt)
Who benefits
The U.S. and allied forces gain deterrence, while Iran’s oil sector, tanker operators and regional importers take the hit. (15min.lt)
What's next
The next decision is whether the U.S. military and CENTCOM widen strikes after Iran’s threats against vessels off Kuwait and Bahrain. (15min.lt)
sources:delfi.lt
Crime
Moscow says it shot down 596 Ukrainian drones last night
Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down 596 Ukrainian drones overnight across Russian regions and annexed Crimea. In Novorossiysk, four people were killed and 29 were wounded, according to Krasnodar governor Veniamin Kondratyev. Local officials also reported a fire at the port, a key outlet for Russian oil, fuel products and grain exports. The barrage came a day after Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed ways to end the war in Ukraine.
Why it matters
Novorossiysk is a major outlet for Russian crude, fuel and grain, so damage there can disrupt Black Sea export flows. The deaths and injuries also show that the drone war is now hitting civilian areas deep inside Russia, not just military sites.
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Two people were killed in Russian strikes in the Kherson region of Ukraine
Russian forces struck Kherson city and nearby areas on September 9, 2026, killing a man and a 55-year-old woman in two drone attacks, local officials said. The first strike hit Korabelnyi district at about 8:25 a.m. local time, and the second came a little over an hour later in the same area. A separate strike in the village of Komyshany wounded a 34-year-old man. The account came from Kherson city military administration head Yaroslav Shanko, cited by Ukrainska Pravda and BNS. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For Kherson residents, the strikes show that the risk extends beyond the frontline to streets and villages where civilians live and work. The wounded 34-year-old man is a reminder that these attacks are still reaching ordinary neighborhoods. (15min.lt)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Iran attacks US base in Jordan amid tensions over Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Wednesday it had hit a US military base in Jordan and vowed revenge for American strikes on Iranian oil tankers, as the fight over the Strait of Hormuz deepened. The US military said on Tuesday it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after the latest attacks on its warships. Washington also struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island near Hormuz last week, saying they posed a threat to shipping. Jordan said the missiles fired at its territory were intercepted.
Why it matters
The biggest market risk is disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key oil chokepoints. For Jordan and US forces in the region, it means more air defense pressure and a higher chance of another round of retaliation.
Politics
Kremlin: Trump offered to restore relations with the United States in exchange for peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin said on Sept. 9 that Donald Trump urged Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine quickly and linked that to a restoration of U.S.-Russia ties and wider trade. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said the call lasted an hour and that both sides viewed the idea positively, although the White House has not confirmed the conversation. The call followed weekend visits to Moscow and Kyiv by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Moscow still wants Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the Kyiv-held part of Donetsk, a demand Kyiv rejects.
Why it matters
For Kyiv and European capitals, the key issue is that Washington is tying any end to the war to a broader reset with Moscow, which could change the pressure on Russia. The outcome will shape whether Ukraine gets more military backing or is pushed toward territorial concessions.
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
From Lavrov: a new tirade targets Rubio and Trump
On September 8, Sergey Lavrov used a TV interview to argue that Washington is already aligned with Vladimir Putin's view of the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin said Trump told Putin he wanted to restore US-Russia ties in return for a peace deal in Ukraine. Lavrov also repeated Moscow's line that Ukraine should stay outside NATO and that the conflict should end on terms reflecting battlefield realities. The remarks came after recent visits to Moscow by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Why it matters
For Ukraine, the message is more pressure on territory and NATO membership. For European capitals, Moscow is trying to lock in a negotiating frame that strips back security guarantees for Kyiv.
sources:delfi.lt