Archived edition
Belarus held four days of military drills near its western border, with some activity in regions adjoining Lithuania and Poland. Minsk said the exercises were defensive and focused on counter-sabotage work and defence against drone and light aircraft attacks.
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys signed a framework deal in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on cooperation in critical minerals. Lithuania says the pact should diversify supply, attract mining and processing investment, and reduce strategic dependencies. Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Saturday that Ukraine’s strongest security guarantee would be its own long-range strike capability. He said wartime drone production has risen from a few thousand to nearly 10 million a year.
A Baltic Research poll commissioned by ELTA found that 65 per cent of Lithuanian adults think the country is getting worse, while 27 per cent see improvement. The most negative groups were people over 50, rural residents, workers and farmers. Egidijus Dragunas, known as Sel, returned to the spotlight after a blunt interview on his wealth, marriage and clashes with institutions. Renewed scrutiny of his money and private life again showed why he remains one of Lithuania’s most polarising entertainment figures.
A debate over the identity of a Lithuanian city also resurfaced after a historic rupture changed its population, work patterns and sense of self. Local authorities and community groups are again weighing an industrial legacy against a new civic brand.
A Russian strike on Dnipro triggered a huge fire, with a shopping centre engulfed in smoke. Other significant late news included US law enforcement data identifying a Kremlin-linked figure suspected of organising murders in Vilnius.
sources: delfi.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, lrytas.lt
Critical minerals are raw materials that are essential for industry, energy and defence, but vulnerable to supply disruption. They typically include rare earths, lithium, cobalt, nickel and other inputs used in advanced manufacturing.
Belarus held four days of military drills near its western border, with some activity in regions adjoining Lithuania and Poland, its defence ministry said. The ministry said the exercises were defensive and focused on counter-sabotage work and defence against drone and light aircraft attacks. Ukraine has separately accused Russia of using Belarusian relay stations to help guide strikes on western Ukraine. Minsk said the drills were meant to improve troops’ ability to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
The drills matter to Lithuanian and Polish border services because the stated focus was on drones and sabotage teams, which maps directly onto border surveillance and air-defence posture. The wider regional concern is whether Belarus is only signaling defensively or also providing infrastructure that supports Russian strikes on Ukraine. (15min.lt)
Who benefits
Belarus’s military and leadership gain a show of readiness, while Lithuanian and Polish border-security agencies lose flexibility and face more monitoring pressure. (15min.lt)
What's next
The next step is a Lithuanian and Polish security assessment of whether the drills have direct implications for airspace and border surveillance. (15min.lt)
Egidijus Dragūnas, better known as Sel, is back in the spotlight after an interview in which he spoke about millions, marriage and his clashes with institutions. In a 2015 interview, he had already discussed police, Andrius Mamontovas, charity, his wife and the United States, and the renewed attention shows how tightly his public image remains tied to controversy. The latest interest in his money and private life underlines that Dragūnas is still one of Lithuania’s most polarising entertainment figures.
Why it matters
It matters to Sel’s fans, concert promoters and the media, because every public comment quickly turns into a wider argument about money, private life and the line between stage persona and reputation. That tone can shape how his next projects are received.
On September 17 in Washington, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a bilateral framework deal on cooperation in critical minerals. The pact is meant to secure more diversified supply, attract investment into mining and processing, and cut strategic dependencies. Lithuania says it can bring know-how in advanced manufacturing, processing and logistics to the table. The government had already backed the deal earlier this month. (mfa.lt)
Why it matters
Lithuanian processors, logistics firms and advanced manufacturers could gain new projects and investor attention, while importers face less supply-chain risk. A tighter US-Lithuania link also reduces exposure to single-source dependencies. (mfa.lt)
On 2026-09-19, Gabrielius Landsbergis told Ukrinform that Ukraine's strongest security guarantee would be its own long-range strike capability, built around drones, military hardware and ballistic missiles. He said Ukraine has scaled drone output from a few thousand to nearly 10 million a year during the full-scale war. He added that a credible deterrent also needs command systems and satellite support. His point was blunt: Ukraine can build the system, and the West can help make it real. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For Ukraine's defence industry, the message points to more demand for drones, missile systems and satellite-linked command tools, with Western suppliers likely to benefit from the build-out. For Russia, it raises the risk that military and industrial sites could be hit at range. (15min.lt)
A Baltic Research survey commissioned by ELTA found that 65 per cent of Lithuanian adults think the country is getting worse, while 27 per cent see improvement. The poll was fielded from Aug. 20 to Aug. 31 and covered 1,019 respondents across 107 locations, with a margin of error of up to 3.1 points. Compared with July, the share seeing improvement fell by seven points to 34 per cent. People over 50, rural residents, workers and farmers were the most negative. (tv3.lt)
Why it matters
The result is a warning sign for political trust and public mood heading into policy fights over prices, pay and services. The strongest pessimism in rural areas and among older voters points to where the pressure is likely to be sharpest. (tv3.lt)
A Lithuanian city built around a unique identity is back in focus today. One historic rupture changed its trajectory, reshaped its population and altered how residents see the place. The real argument is now about identity, not just urban planning. Local authorities and community groups will have to decide whether the city leans on its industrial past or builds a new brand.
Why it matters
For residents, the identity question will shape investment, tourism and whether younger people stay. It will also decide whether the city keeps betting on an old industrial model or looks for a different economic base.
Russia struck Ukraine’s Sumy region over the past day, damaging apartment blocks and wounding residents. In Odesa, air raid alerts lasted for almost the entire night during another Russian attack on southern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces also struck Russian drone control centres.
Estonia’s military intelligence chief Ants Kiviselg said yesterday that Russian losses in Ukraine topped 10,000 troops for a third straight week. He put average daily losses at about 1,600 and said Russia is still directing strikes at Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Kiviselg added that Kyiv is waiting for Moscow’s reply on a possible ban on attacks against energy facilities and said any mobilisation after the September State Duma elections would alter the regional security picture.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that a Russian drone hit a petrol station near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing and triggered a very powerful blast. Tusk also said drones struck the Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train route and that one blast-hit vehicle was about 2 kilometres from Polish territory. French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday told his government to draw up a plan to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive defence sites from drone and cyberattacks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking in Strasbourg, called for a NATO-style response mechanism for drone incidents, sabotage and cyberattacks.
Sweden’s civil defence chief Mikael Frisell said today in Stockholm that his agency and the armed forces have published a seven-scenario wartime plan for the whole of society. The plan covers hybrid threats, attacks on northern Sweden and Gotland, and NATO reinforcement in the Baltic Sea, with a goal of keeping core services running for at least three months. U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that the dispute over Greenland with Denmark, the European Union and NATO was over after a security deal tied to a larger U.S. military presence on the island. In England, Brentford beat Chelsea 3-0 yesterday to move up to third in the Premier League after goals from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho.
NATO has prepared contingency plans for its eastern flank in the event of escalation, and a German general was elected as the new chair of the alliance's Military Committee. Latvia's president warned that Europe would struggle to repel a Russian missile attack, while Poland is expanding its warning siren network because of intense Russian strikes near the border.
sources: lrt.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt, 15min.lt
Gotland is a strategically important Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. Its location matters for control of sea lanes and for NATO reinforcement routes in the region.
On September 18, Donald Tusk told parliament that a Russian drone hit a petrol station near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing and triggered a powerful blast. He linked the strike to the symbolic timing, the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939. Tusk also said Russian drones had hit a Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train route and landed within roughly 2 kilometers of Polish territory. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Border security services and carriers on the Ukraine route now face higher risk on a corridor used for aid, freight and passengers. Warsaw has already moved to tighten border security and talk to NATO allies about readiness. (lrt.lt)
Who benefits
Poland’s defence and border-security agencies gain a stronger case for more funding and forces, while border carriers and supply-chain firms face higher disruption risk. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
What's next
The Polish government now has to decide on extra border measures and on consultations with NATO over drone and missile defence. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Estonian military intelligence chief Ants Kiviselg said on Sept. 18 that Russia has lost more than 10,000 troops a week for a third straight week in its war against Ukraine. He said average daily losses are about 1,600, or just over 11,000 for the week. Kiviselg also said Russia is focusing its strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, while Kyiv is waiting for Moscow to respond on a possible ban on attacks against energy facilities. He added that a Russian mobilisation after September's State Duma elections would raise pressure on Ukraine and alter the regional security picture.
Why it matters
For Ukraine, the numbers point to a grinding attritional war that still drains manpower while Russia keeps hitting power and civilian infrastructure. For NATO states on the alliance’s eastern flank, any Russian mobilisation would change the tempo of the war and the security calculus around the region.
On Sept. 18, Emmanuel Macron told his government to draw up a plan to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive defense sites from drone and cyberattacks, saying the Russian hybrid threat had intensified. In Strasbourg the same day, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called for a NATO-style response mechanism for drone incidents, sabotage and cyberattacks, while a NATO official said there was no imminent threat of attack. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk separately warned that Russia could try hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on NATO territory, including against countries backing Ukraine. The message from Europe’s capitals is moving from warning to preparedness. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
For infrastructure operators, airports, energy grids and defence firms, it means more security measures, higher costs and faster contingency planning. People can expect more drills, checks and restrictions around sensitive sites as governments prepare for drone, sabotage and cyberattack scenarios. (apnews.com)
Sweden’s civil defence chief Mikael Frisell said on September 19 in Stockholm that his agency and the armed forces have drawn up a public seven-scenario plan for the whole of society. The playbook covers hybrid threats, attacks on northern Sweden and Gotland, remote strikes, host-nation support and NATO reinforcement in the Baltic Sea. Frisell said the aim is to keep the most vital public services running and make sure the country can function for at least three months in wartime. He added that essential public and private bodies should be able to operate from their own reserves for at least two weeks. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The plan shifts war readiness from the military to hospitals, energy, finance and local government. If those sectors can keep running on their own, Sweden and NATO gain more time to absorb a crisis in the Baltic region. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Donald Trump said on September 18 that the dispute over Greenland with Denmark, the European Union and NATO was over after a security deal. The announcement came in a post on Truth Social and was reported on September 19 by Le Monde. The deal is tied to expanding the U.S. military presence in Greenland. That moves one of the alliance’s sharper transatlantic disputes into an implementation phase. (lemonde.fr)
Why it matters
The deal affects NATO cohesion and the U.S. military footprint in the Arctic. For Denmark and Greenland, it shifts the argument from confrontation to the terms of security cooperation. (lemonde.fr)
Brentford beat Chelsea 3-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday, September 18, 2026. Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho all scored after half-time. The result lifted Brentford to third in the Premier League and left Chelsea without a win in three straight league games. Chelsea also conceded from set pieces again, a problem that has followed Xabi Alonso's side through the early season. (skysports.com)
Why it matters
Chelsea have already dropped seven points in their first five league matches, which makes the next run of games far more important for keeping pace with the front runners. Brentford's rise into third strengthens their case for a European place and gives them a bigger margin in the race with the league's bigger spenders. (15min.lt)
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that he had approved new long-range operations and that Ukraine was preparing to expand those capabilities in response to Russian attacks. After a meeting with Defence Minister Jevhenii Chmara and armed forces chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, he also said the military was updating command methods and response procedures while officials discussed legal changes and ways to recruit more foreign volunteers.
The US State Department on Saturday approved a possible $2.7 billion sale of military equipment and services to Ukraine, focused on modernising air defences. The package would be financed through European partner contributions and US Foreign Military Financing funds set aside during Joe Biden's presidency, allowing Kyiv to access US-made systems without paying from its own budget.
CNN reported that the US military nearly moved against a Chinese vessel this spring after an AI-assisted intelligence brief wrongly linked its cargo to a nuclear weapons programme. Officials cancelled the operation at the last moment when they found the assessment relied on inaccurate AI-generated data, and one source said the episode had "almost caused a war".
BlackRock chief Larry Fink said in his 2026 chairman's letter that AI capital spending is already contributing to US growth at roughly three times its historical average this year. Market commentary over the past day also noted that AI-related spending has helped keep US growth resilient despite higher energy prices and borrowing costs, though Fink warned that the gains may be concentrated among existing asset owners. Other world developments already in view include a Russian strike on an apartment building in Sumy, new US sanctions on Russia and a deadly attack on a police headquarters in Pakistan.
Forty-eight people were killed in clashes between Houthi fighters and government forces in Yemen, according to sources.
sources: lrytas.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt
Foreign Military Financing is a US programme that gives partner countries funds to buy American defence equipment and services. Washington uses it to support allies' armed forces without requiring them to cover the full cost from their own budgets.
On September 19, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelensky said after a meeting with Defense Minister Jevhenii Chmara and armed forces chief Mykhailo Drapatyi that Ukraine is preparing to expand its long-range capabilities. He said he had approved new long-range operations in response to Russian attacks. Zelensky also said the military was updating command methods and response procedures, while officials discussed legal changes and ways to recruit foreign volunteers. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For Ukrainian forces, the move points to more pressure on Russia's military and energy infrastructure, which has already been hit in previous strikes. More long-range reach could raise Moscow's costs and complicate fuel and logistics flows tied to the war effort. (apnews.com)
Who benefits
Ukrainian drone and missile makers and the military command stand to gain, while Russia's refining and military logistics sectors are the direct losers. (apnews.com)
What's next
The next step is the execution of the newly approved long-range operations, while the military leadership finishes command and legal changes. (15min.lt)
CNN reported on September 18 that the U.S. military nearly moved against a Chinese vessel this spring after an AI-assisted intelligence brief wrongly suggested the cargo was tied to a nuclear weapons program. Officials pulled the operation at the last minute when they realized the assessment rested on inaccurate AI-generated data. One source told CNN the episode had
Why it matters
The episode raises the stakes for U.S.-China military friction, because one flawed intelligence call can push two nuclear powers toward a direct confrontation at sea. It also puts new pressure on how far AI should be trusted in decisions that can trigger force.
BlackRock said on Sept. 15 that AI capital spending is already contributing to U.S. growth at roughly three times its historical average this year. In his 2026 chairman’s letter, Larry Fink said AI could create more value, but it may also concentrate gains among existing asset owners. A Reuters report on Sept. 18 said AI-related spending has helped keep growth resilient even as energy prices and borrowing costs rise. Fink’s message is that the payoff could be huge, but only if the buildout translates into broad productivity gains.
Why it matters
For pension funds and asset managers, the key question is whether this spending wave turns into lasting productivity gains or just richer valuations in a narrow slice of tech. If the benefits stay concentrated with capital owners, wage growth and broad consumer demand may lag asset prices.
The State Department on Sept. 19, 2026 approved a possible $2.7 billion sale of military equipment and services to Ukraine, focused on modernizing air defenses. The deal would be paid for through European partner contributions and U.S. Foreign Military Financing funds set aside during Joe Biden's presidency. The department said the financing mechanism allows countries to buy U.S.-made weapons and defense equipment. If completed, the package would give Kyiv access to U.S. hardware without having to fund the purchase from its own budget.
Why it matters
For Ukraine's air defenses, the package could mean more U.S.-made equipment and spare parts that help protect cities and energy sites. For European governments, it means another financial commitment to Kyiv's military support, with their budgets helping cover part of the bill.
On 19 September 2026, Lrytas published Palmira’s daily horoscope, warning of possible clashes caused by being too principled. The item ran in the paper’s lifestyle horoscope section, so it is a same-day forecast rather than a hard-news event. The message points to tensions in personal or work relationships where rigid positions could make compromise harder. Which signs are most affected depends on the full horoscope text, which was published alongside the headline. (lrytas.lt)
Why it matters
It speaks to readers facing disputes at work or at home that day. If principle hardens into inflexibility, compromise gets harder and relationships take the hit. (lrytas.lt)