Term
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare uses the electromagnetic spectrum to jam, deceive or disrupt communications, navigation and radar systems. It can push drones off course or make them harder to detect.
13 September 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
Lithuania’s military on Saturday logged an object flying from Belarus to Kaliningrad across Lithuanian airspace. Radars tracked it near Varėna and authorities are now trying to establish its origin and route.
An air threat warning in Vilnius county over the past day was later lifted after the radar contact was identified as a weather balloon. NATO fighters had been scrambled because the initial radar signature resembled a drone. If Saturday’s object is not recovered, investigators will reconstruct its path from radar data and public reports.
Officials have tightened airspace monitoring in recent days as they try to distinguish weather balloons, smuggling devices and drones in real time. NKVC chief Vilmantas Vitkauskas said in an earlier Utena district case that wreckage found in May most likely came from a Ukrainian drone that had been diverted off course by Russian electronic warfare.
In domestic policy, debate continues over stricter residence-registration rules because unresolved address records can already block passport issuance and car registration. Lithuania has also launched the GGP LT birth and family study to examine decisions on having children, lower birth rates and population ageing.
Hundreds of millions of euros are set to be invested in the Šiauliai military air base. Lithuania's leaders and the speaker of parliament also expressed condolences after the death of signatory Povilas Varanauskas.
sources: lrytas.lt, delfi.lt, lrt.lt, tv3.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt
Worth knowing
Top stories
Politics
Unidentified object detected in Lithuanian airspace
Lithuanian military and crisis officials have been tracking flying objects near the border and in national airspace in recent days. On June 13, an air threat warning in Vilnius county was lifted after radar contact turned out to be a weather balloon, not a drone. Nato fighters were scrambled to identify the object because the first radar signature looked like an unmanned aircraft. The episode has kept airspace monitoring tight as authorities try to separate weather balloons, smuggling devices and drones in real time.
Why it matters
For residents in Vilnius county and border municipalities, it means more alerts, short-lived airspace restrictions and faster response by security services along the Belarus frontier. For airlines and airports, the key issue is whether these objects force repeated disruptions to flight schedules and temporary closures.
Who benefits
Lithuanian military units, border guards and air navigation operators gain more authority to identify objects quickly, while airports, carriers and smuggling networks lose out.
What's next
The Defence Ministry and the Lithuanian military must keep working to establish the object's origin, flight path and any link to border violations.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Air danger announced: NATO fighters deployed, flights halted
On September 9, a drone incursion in Moldova disrupted at least one flight and forced temporary air-traffic restrictions over part of the country. The incident landed amid a string of airspace alerts on NATO’s eastern flank, where allied jets were already scrambled in Latvia and Estonia after possible aerial threats. In those cases, airports and civilian traffic faced delays and stoppages while military and civil authorities checked radar data and tried to track the object. NATO fighters were also launched from Ämari in Estonia in one of the recent alerts, but they did not visually confirm a target.
Why it matters
Passengers feel the impact through delays, cancellations and airport shutdowns, not just the alert itself. For air-defence services, it means higher operating costs and a need to keep fighters on immediate standby.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Vitkauskas: a drone likely entered Lithuania
In the Utena district case, NKVC chief Vilmantas Vitkauskas said the wreckage found on May 17 most likely came from a Ukrainian drone. Officials then focused on how it entered Lithuanian airspace and what altitude it flew at, because that determines whether radar can spot it. The later assessment was that Russian electronic warfare likely diverted the drone off course and into Lithuania. The episode became a key test of how Lithuania tracks military drones that cross the border without targeting the country directly.
Why it matters
Border municipalities and air defence units are affected because detection speed decides whether a drone falls in a populated area or out in the open. The case also raises questions about radar gaps and how quickly residents should be warned.
Politics
The army logged an object flying from Belarus into Kaliningrad across Lithuania
The Lithuanian military logged an object crossing its airspace from Belarus toward Kaliningrad on September 13. In earlier cases, similar tracks have been linked to drones or weather balloons drifting in from Belarus, which triggers immediate monitoring and search procedures. If the object is not recovered, investigators will have to reconstruct its path from radar data and public reports. The incident raises fresh questions about airspace surveillance and civil aviation safety along the border.
Why it matters
People living near the border and passengers using Vilnius or regional routes are the ones exposed first, because every unidentified track can trigger extra checks or flight restrictions. For the military and air-navigation services, it means tighter readiness and faster response, while it narrows room for anyone using drones, balloons or other crossing devices.
Politics
Some residents may be left without a passport and the right to register a car as authorities plan to tighten the current rules
Lithuania’s residence-registration system already sits at the centre of a range of public services. The Interior Ministry says people can declare an address at a ward office, municipality or online, and the law ties those records to state procedures. Any move to tighten the rules would build on that framework, because an unresolved declaration can already affect access to identity documents and car registration.
Why it matters
The people most exposed are renters, temporary residents and anyone who moves often. Tighter rules would mean more mandatory paperwork and a greater risk of being blocked when they try to renew a passport or register a vehicle.
sources:lrytas.lt
Society
Why are Lithuanians unwilling to have children? Scientists and the state will seek real reasons
Lithuania has launched the GGP LT birth and family study, run by a demography and family research unit with policymakers and public-sector partners. The project is meant to explain family life, decisions on having children and the country’s demographic shifts. The labour and social affairs ministry says Lithuania faces lower birth rates and an ageing population. The government is also preparing new family-policy measures to be tested on expert advice.
Why it matters
Young couples and families stand to gain if policy starts matching the real barriers to having children, from housing costs to childcare access and work schedules. Measures built on assumptions rather than data are the losers here, because they miss the factors that actually delay births.
sources:delfi.lt
Europe
Summary
Volyn saw a Russian drone hit a passenger train locomotive today just 2 km from the Polish border. Poland's defence minister said another drone came down 1 km from the border and a second 5 km away. Ukrainian Railways said the crew had been warned in advance and no one was injured. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 453 drones of various types overnight.
Kyiv told European allies in the past day that its 2026 defence funding gap had widened to $27 billion. Reuters said Ukraine had already used money earmarked for later in the year, even though the EU has already agreed a €90 billion loan for 2026–27. Of that total, €28.3 billion has been set aside for Ukraine's defence industry.
Ukrainian drones struck a refinery in Russia's Saratov region and another strategic fuel site over the past two days. After an earlier strike, Rosneft's Ryazan refinery shut its main CDU-6 unit and the AVT-4 block, and the plant processed 13.1 million tonnes of crude in 2024, or about 4.9% of Russia's total. Sergei Lavrov said yesterday that Moscow rejected a ceasefire and called a Vladimir Putin-Volodymyr Zelenskiy summit impossible, even as the Kremlin said it remained open to talks. In Moscow, Putin has kept defending Russia's war economy in recent days even as official figures showed a 40% rise in the federal deficit from January to July.
In England on Saturday, Chelsea drew 2-2 at home with Hull City despite a 7th-minute goal from Morgan Rogers. Liverpool were held 0-0 away by Fulham, while Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0. After four matches, Hull City were third on eight points and Chelsea were fourth on seven.
Russia shelled Ukrainian cities throughout the day, killing at least two people. A Russian drone also hit a train near the Polish border, and Poland and Ukraine condemned the strike as an escalation.
sources: tv3.lt, lrt.lt, delfi.lt, 15min.lt
Worth knowing
Term
State Duma
The State Duma is the lower house of Russia's parliament. It passes federal laws, approves the prime minister and serves as a central instrument of Kremlin political control.
Top stories
Politics
War in Ukraine. Drones attack oil refineries in Russia
Ukrainian drones hit a refinery in Russia’s Saratov region overnight on Sept. 11, according to Russian Telegram channels and Reuters. A day earlier, industry sources said Rosneft’s Ryazan refinery had shut its main CDU-6 unit and another key block after a separate drone strike. Ryazan processed 13.1 million tonnes of crude in 2024, about 4.9% of Russia’s total refining volume. The strikes show Kyiv is still targeting fuel infrastructure that feeds Russia’s war economy.
Why it matters
Russia’s fuel market faces more disruption and a higher risk of regional shortages of petrol and diesel. Refiners must absorb repair costs and downtime, while the state loses output and export revenue.
Who benefits
Ukraine and the drone-makers supplying its long-range campaign gain leverage, while Rosneft, Russian refiners and fuel-dependent transport operators lose output and supply security.
What's next
The next checkpoint is whether Russian energy authorities announce new fuel restrictions and whether the Ryazan refinery brings its AVT-6 and AVT-4 units back online in the coming days.
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Russians struck just 2 km from the Polish border; passenger train damaged in Volyn
On September 13, a Russian drone hit the locomotive of a passenger train in Volyn, 2 km from the Polish border, Ukrainian Railways said. Poland’s defence minister said another drone came down 1 km from the border and a second 5 km away. The crew had been warned in advance, and no injuries were reported. Russia launched 453 drones of various types against Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. (nashaniva.com)
Why it matters
Ukraine’s western rail corridor links Kyiv with Poland and carries passengers, aid and military logistics. Strikes this close to the border raise the risk of disruption at crossings and on rail schedules on both sides of the frontier. (theduke.fm)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
War in Ukraine. Kremlin calls Zelenskiy and Putin meeting impossible
On Sept. 12, Sergei Lavrov told Russian TV that Moscow was still open to talks, but ruled out a ceasefire and a Putin-Zelenskiy summit in Miami. His comments came after Sept. 5 talks in Moscow with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner failed to produce a breakthrough. The Kremlin also told Trump on Sept. 8 that Russia had no aggressive plans toward Europe, while saying it still aimed to secure battlefield gains in Ukraine. Putin and Zelenskiy have not met in person since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. (kyivindependent.com)
Why it matters
Ukrainian civilians and soldiers face the prospect of more fighting because Moscow is rejecting the kind of summit that could produce a quick halt in hostilities. Washington and European capitals are also being told that the Kremlin is not ready to accept a deal on terms that would freeze the war. (kyivindependent.com)
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Putin risks losing everything by repeating Stalin's mistake; the similarities are stunning
Between Sept. 3 and Sept. 11, Vladimir Putin defended Russia’s war economy and said the federal deficit was manageable, even as official figures showed a 40% rise in the deficit from January to July. Kremlin-linked voices have pushed the idea of a wartime economic reset, openly invoking Stalin-era mobilization as a model. The timing matters because State Duma elections run on Sept. 18-20, and the Kremlin is leaning harder into strength messaging instead of any climbdown on Ukraine. Putin has given no sign he is preparing a policy shift. (thelondonreview.org.uk)
Why it matters
Russia’s budget strain hits military spending, regional subsidies and consumer prices, because war costs are forcing the state deeper into deficit. A harder wartime turn would hit state firms, regional authorities and households first, especially through higher costs for goods and fuel. (thelondonreview.org.uk)
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
Gap in Ukraine's defense budget raises concerns in Europe; Moscow also allows crazy money
Kyiv told European allies in September that its 2026 defence funding gap had widened to $27 billion, jolting capitals already wrestling with how to keep Ukraine financed. Reuters cited officials saying the defence ministry had already spent money booked for later in the year, forcing a scramble to reshuffle resources. The EU has already agreed a €90 billion loan for 2026-27, with €28.3 billion earmarked for Ukraine’s defence industry. EU decisions also tie the support to Ukraine’s projected external financing gap and other donor contributions through the end of 2026.
Why it matters
For Ukraine’s military, the shortfall means less room to buy shells, fund contracts and keep defence factories running while Russia keeps up the pressure. For European governments, it raises the stakes around budgets, frozen Russian assets and how fast pledged money can be turned into cash for Kyiv.
sources:tv3.lt
Sports
Chelsea and Liverpool dropped points, Arsenal secured a win
Chelsea drew 2-2 at home with Hull City, while Liverpool were held 0-0 away by Fulham. Chelsea led early through Morgan Rogers, then fell behind to two Mohamed Belloumi goals before Joao Pedro levelled in the 66th minute. Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0 in the same round, giving the title race an uneven feel at the top. After four games, Chelsea had seven points and sat fourth, with Hull City third on eight. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Chelsea and Liverpool both dropped points in a round where Arsenal won, which can shape the early table before the schedule tightens. That matters for the clubs chasing Europe and the supporters tracking every slip in a crowded title race. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
sources:lrt.lt
World
Summary
In Washington, Donald Trump urged Kyiv to stop striking Russian diesel infrastructure, saying the attacks are worsening shortages after Moscow banned diesel exports in July. The same day, Ukraine intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko said Vladimir Putin has about two years of war left, while Russian strikes yesterday killed eight civilians and wounded dozens more.
Europe's disease watchdog and the WHO warn that prolonged heat, floods and droughts are raising infection burdens and weakening health-system resilience. New scientific reviews say higher temperatures, heavy rain and flooding are changing the spread of waterborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, sharpening the case for wider surveillance, faster alerts and closer tracking of mosquito- and tick-borne disease.
In the Java Sea, rescuers were searching today for at least 129 missing people after the ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized. The vessel was sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin with 243 people and 89 vehicles on board, 108 people were rescued, six bodies were recovered, and aerial images showed the ferry upside down but still afloat.
In Yemen, the Houthis said they struck a Saudi military base in Sharurah in Najran province with missiles and drones, while government forces regrouped after the rebels seized Mokha port and Perim island. In the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials said a ship was hit, a separate vessel attack killed one person, and Argentina revived a naval base project as tensions over the Falkland Islands rose.
The United States won the women's basketball world title again, extending its dominance in the tournament. Spain took bronze.
sources: lrytas.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt, lrt.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. A large share of the world's oil and LNG shipments passes through it, so even isolated attacks can jolt security calculations and energy markets.
Top stories
Health
Warning: extreme weather fueling new infection wave and threatening modern medicine
Europe's disease watchdog warned in July that prolonged heat is lifting infection risk across the continent and called for tighter cross-sector cooperation. The WHO's latest El Niño analysis, published in September, links heatwaves, floods and droughts to higher infection burdens and weaker health-system resilience. New reviews in leading journals say rising temperatures, heavy rain and flooding are changing how waterborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance spread. The practical response now is more surveillance, faster alerts and health systems built to cope with repeated weather shocks.
Why it matters
The highest risk falls on children, older adults and patients with chronic disease, who are more likely to get seriously ill when infections follow heat, flooding or contaminated water. Local authorities, hospitals and public-health agencies face higher costs for vector monitoring, water testing and emergency readiness.
Who benefits
Disease surveillance, vaccine and water-testing providers stand to gain, while cash-strapped municipalities and overcrowded hospitals bear the costs.
What's next
The next step is whether ECDC and European governments move to expand summer and autumn surveillance for mosquito-borne and waterborne infections.
sources:lrytas.lt
Politics
Gloomy news from Kyiv: Putin will fight until death
On September 13 in Washington, Donald Trump urged Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian diesel, saying the attacks are worsening shortages after Moscow banned diesel exports in July. The same day, Ukraine’s intelligence chief said Putin has about two years of war left, while Russian strikes on September 12 killed eight civilians and wounded dozens more. Moscow also warned on September 12 that any European troops in Ukraine would amount to direct conflict with Russia. The picture is clear: diplomacy is moving, but both sides are still betting on pressure, not compromise. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
Ukrainian civilians and European security planners are feeling the fallout directly. The strikes keep killing people, while warnings over European troops and diesel shortages show the war is spilling into energy and defence decisions. (apnews.com)
sources:vz.lt
Politics
Houthis say they attacked a Saudi base after renewed clashes with Yemeni government forces
The Houthis said overnight they hit a Saudi military base in Sharurah, in Najran province, with missiles and drones. The claim came as Yemeni government forces said they were regrouping to push back a Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast, where the rebels have recently seized Mokha port and Perim island. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree gave no evidence or timing for the strike. The renewed clashes raise the risk of Yemen sliding back into full-scale war. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
The immediate risk is to civilians on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and in Saudi Arabia’s south, because the fighting is shifting into areas that matter for evacuation routes and supply lines. If the Houthis consolidate gains near the Bab el-Mandab strait, shipping and oil flows through one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints could slow and become more expensive. (ca.investing.com)
Society
In the Java Sea, loss of contact with Indonesian ferry carrying more than 240 people
Indonesian rescuers were still searching on Sept. 13 for at least 129 people after the ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea. The vessel had departed Surabaya in East Java for Banjarmasin on Borneo with 243 people on the manifest and 89 vehicles on board. By Sunday evening, officials said 108 people had been rescued and six bodies recovered. The transport minister said aerial images showed the ferry was floating upside down rather than sunk.
Why it matters
Families of the missing are now waiting on the scale of the rescue effort and the weather, both of which will shape how many more people may be found alive. The accident also puts fresh pressure on ferry safety in Indonesia, where inter-island routes carry both passengers and freight.