Law
Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution
This article bars weapons of mass destruction on Lithuanian soil and prohibits foreign military bases. Amending it requires a two-stage parliamentary vote with at least 94 lawmakers in favour each time.
22 September 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
Vilnius Airport was placed under airspace restrictions overnight from 11.25 pm to 2.40 am, disrupting at least 20 flights. Some services were diverted to Riga and Kaunas, while NATO air-defence fighters were seen circling near Karmelava during the incident. Later, Lithuania's border guard found a large cache of smuggled cigarettes in Trakai district, and the official explanation linked the disruption to radar tracks typical of smuggling balloons.
Lithuania still has no final US decision on troop presence, although presidential adviser Deividas Matulionis said a new rotation is on the way. In New York, President Gitanas Nauseda said the next US contingent could be larger than the previous one, while deputy foreign minister Sigitas Mitulionis said the timing and size remain unclear because a broader Pentagon review of forces in Europe has delayed the usual handover. During the same trip, Nauseda met Lockheed Martin International president Jay Pitman to discuss bringing Lithuanian firms into the group's supply chain and localising component production in Lithuania. Lithuania's defence ministry signed a cooperation agreement with Lockheed Martin in May, and the company registered a Lithuanian subsidiary in March.
The Seimas legal affairs committee backed by seven votes to two a proposal to remove the constitutional ban on weapons of mass destruction on Lithuanian territory. The change would also affect Article 137, which bars foreign military bases, and any amendment would need at least 94 votes in parliament twice. Ukrainian defence group DEMZ has meanwhile raised the planned value of its investment in Lithuania to 93.3 million euros, covering ammunition production in Alytus and assembly of ammunition parts in Prienai district.
President Gitanas Nauseda said about 1,000 U.S. troops could be sent to Lithuania, while Germany's brigade there will be deployed at full strength. Lithuania's parliament is also considering removing Article 137 of the Constitution, which relates to the presence of foreign military units in the country.
sources: lrt.lt, tv3.lt, vz.lt, delfi.lt, 15min.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Top stories
Politics
Nervous night in Lithuanian skies as NATO fighters were scrambled
Vilnius Airport was under airspace restrictions from 11.25 pm on September 21 until 2.40 am on September 22, disrupting at least 20 flights. 15min also reported NATO air-defence fighters circling near Karmėlava during the night. Later, Lithuania’s border guard said it had found a large cache of smuggled cigarettes in the Trakai district, while the official explanation for the disruption pointed to radar tracks typical of smuggling balloons. Some flights were diverted to Riga and Kaunas. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For passengers, it meant delays, diversions and missed connections through Vilnius, Kaunas and Riga. It also shows how smuggling balloons and related objects can force a civilian aviation shutdown and pull air-policing jets into an overnight response. (15min.lt)
Who benefits
Smuggling networks gain if balloon launches can move cigarettes, while passengers, Vilnius Airport and airlines absorb the costs of diversions and delays. (15min.lt)
What's next
The Ministry of Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces now need to pin down what caused the radar tracks and why fighters were scrambled, after the airspace restrictions were lifted in the early hours of September 22. (15min.lt)
Politics
President: new US troop rotation en route to Lithuania
Lithuania still lacks a final U.S. decision on troop presence, President Gitanas Nausėda's foreign policy adviser Deividas Matulionis said on Sept. 22, leaving the size and timing of any incoming rotation unclear. The comment followed last week's meeting in Washington between Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which Lithuanian officials had hoped would unlock the answer. Nausėda said on Sept. 16 that the next U.S. group could be larger than before, but the usual handover has been delayed by a broader Pentagon review of forces in Europe. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Lithuanian defence planners still cannot lock in parts of their air defence, exercises and deterrence planning until Washington confirms the rotation size. The uncertainty affects the Lithuanian military and NATO's eastern flank, where the U.S. presence is the key extra layer of capability. (lrt.lt)
Politics
Gitanas Nausėda: Lithuania aims to join Lockheed Martin's supply chain and manufacture components
On September 22, 2026, President Gitanas Nausėda met Lockheed Martin International president Jay Pitman in New York to discuss bringing Lithuanian firms into the U.S. defense giant’s supply chain and localizing parts production in Lithuania. The president said Lithuania has the skills to make components for Lockheed Martin systems. Lithuania’s defence ministry signed a cooperation agreement with Lockheed Martin in May, and the company registered a Lithuanian subsidiary in March 2026. Lithuania has already bought HIMARS rocket artillery from the group. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For Lithuanian defense suppliers, the prize is higher-value work, from component production to maintenance contracts, with a path into a major U.S. prime contractor’s European network. The gains would likely flow first to metalworking, electronics and repair firms. (15min.lt)
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
Nausėda receives confirmation about US troops; new details on their number
In New York on September 22, President Gitanas Nauseda said the next U.S. troop rotation to Lithuania could be larger than before. Deputy foreign minister Sigitas Mitulionis said Vilnius still does not have a final confirmation from Washington. The issue sits inside a wider U.S. review of force levels in Europe, with media reports flagging a Pentagon look at cutting about 25,000 troops across the continent. Lithuania is now waiting for the formal U.S. decision that will define the size of the rotation.
Why it matters
The size of the U.S. rotation directly shapes deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank and affects how the Lithuanian military plans drills and readiness. Any cut to U.S. force levels in Europe would ripple through Baltic defence planning and the units that rely on those deployments.
sources:lrytas.lt
Politics
Parliament to consider proposal to remove ban on weapons of mass destruction from the Constitution
The Seimas legal affairs committee backed a proposal on Sept. 17 to remove from the constitution the ban on weapons of mass destruction on Lithuanian territory, with seven votes to two. The current Article 137 also bars foreign military bases. President Gitanas Nausėda has argued Lithuania needs room to take part in collective deterrence models in a crisis or war. Changing the constitution requires 94 of 141 lawmakers to vote for it twice, with a three-month gap. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The issue affects NATO deterrence planning and the legal room Lithuanian leaders want in a crisis. If the ban is removed, the constitutional hurdle goes away, leaving any future deployment or related deterrence step to political and military coordination. (lrt.lt)
Economy
Value of Ukrainian DEMZ investments in Lithuania will reach 93.3 million euros
The planned value of Ukrainian defence group DEMZ’s investment in Lithuania has reached 93.3 million euros. The project covers ammunition production in Alytus and assembly of ammunition parts in the Prienai district. Earlier plans called for up to 450 jobs and a plant built around existing industrial infrastructure in Alytus. The project is being handled as a major investment, which means faster procedures and state support on land and infrastructure.
Why it matters
Industrial firms in Alytus and Prienai gain a new supply chain, while the local labour market can absorb several hundred manufacturing and logistics jobs. For the defence sector, the project adds domestic ammunition capacity and reduces reliance on imports.
sources:vz.lt
Europe
Summary
Ukraine's air defences shot down 177 drones in an overnight Russian attack, while strikes were recorded in 22 locations. At least four people were killed in attacks on Ukrainian cities, and Poland scrambled military aircraft on Monday while putting air-defence and radar units on higher alert near the border.
In Russia, a Ukrainian drone strike halted operations at the Syzran refinery in the Samara region after its main processing unit was damaged. A separate Moscow refinery has also gone offline in the past two days after a fire hit two primary distillation units, and repairs there could take several weeks. Near Kupyansk, Russian troops again tried to move through a disused gas pipeline toward Ukrainian positions, but Ukraine's 3rd Corps said it forced them to abandon the route.
In New York, Emmanuel Macron said his talks with Donald Trump on Ukraine were constructive. Macron said he pressed Trump to move faster on defensive aid for Kyiv, especially interceptors and air-defence tools, and discussed a possible moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure.
In Spain, the football federation unanimously extended Luis de la Fuente's contract to 2032 at a board meeting in Las Rozas. After Spain's 2026 World Cup win, he is now set to stay through Euro 2028, the 2030 World Cup and Euro 2032, with the squad regrouping today for four matches in 11 days.
The EU Council extended individual sanctions on Russia for another three years. The Baltic states also agreed to push completion of the first phase of Rail Baltica to 2034.
sources: 15min.lt, delfi.lt, lrt.lt, tv3.lt, vz.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Term
Moratorium
A moratorium is a formally agreed temporary halt to a specific activity. In diplomacy, it is often used for a limited pause in attacks, testing or enforcement rather than a full settlement.
Top stories
Politics
Russian soldiers again in a push to attack Ukraine, generals send them.
Russian troops again tried to move through a disused gas pipeline toward Ukrainian positions near Kupyansk, and Ukraine’s 3rd Corps said on Sept. 15 it forced them to abandon the route. The tactic echoes an earlier Kupyansk episode, when Russian soldiers crawled through a pipeline for days and waited underground before trying to strike from behind. The Washington Post said the pipe route was then shut off, forcing Russian units to cross a river on rafts instead. It is the second publicly described pipe infiltration attempt in this sector. (armyinform.com.ua)
Why it matters
For Ukrainian defenders, it means pipelines, rear access points and river crossings all have to be watched as active attack routes. For Russian units, a hidden pipe can be a low-cost way to bypass fortified lines if it stays open. (armyinform.com.ua)
Who benefits
Ukrainain 3rd Corps and its drone and artillery units gain, while Russian assault groups lose a concealed approach route. (armyinform.com.ua)
What's next
The next thing to watch is whether Ukraine’s defense command says Russian units will try to reopen the pipe route or shift back to river crossings. (armyinform.com.ua)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
War in Ukraine: Samara oil refinery attacked in Russia, large fire
A Ukrainian drone strike on the Syzran refinery in Russia’s Samara region on Sept. 15 damaged the plant’s main processing unit and forced a halt in operations, industry sources told Reuters. The refinery is part of Russia’s fuel network along the Volga, and the hit came as a separate Moscow refinery was also taken offline after a Sept. 20 attack that set fire to two primary distillation units. Reuters said repairs in Moscow could take several weeks. The latest attacks add to pressure on Russia’s fuel system just as the country faces repeated strikes on refinery capacity. (signaldesecurite.be)
Why it matters
Fuel disruptions hit Russia’s domestic market first, because regional refineries help set supply for gasoline and diesel across the country. If several large units stay offline, transport and industrial users face tighter supply and higher logistics costs. (signaldesecurite.be)
Politics
Fighter jets scrambled in Poland as Russia attacks Ukraine
Poland scrambled military aircraft on Sept. 22, 2026 as Russia carried out air strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command said. Ground-based air defence and radar units were also put on alert to protect Polish airspace, especially near border areas exposed to spillover risks. The command said its forces were still monitoring the situation and were ready to respond immediately. The alert came on Monday evening as Russian attacks on Ukraine continued. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The alert matters for people in Poland’s border regions, where air-defence readiness can quickly translate into airspace restrictions and emergency procedures. It also affects Ukraine, because every NATO response near the frontier shapes the operating environment around Russia’s strikes. (lrt.lt)
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Macron: talks with Donald Trump on Ukraine were constructive
On Sept. 21 in New York, Emmanuel Macron said his talks with Donald Trump on Ukraine and the Red Sea were constructive. He said he pressed Trump to move faster on defensive aid for Kyiv, especially interceptors and air-defence tools. Macron also said they discussed a possible moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure. He is due to meet Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
Ukraine’s power system is the immediate stake here, because attacks on energy sites can knock out heat, electricity and air-defence coverage ahead of winter. If Washington agrees to more defensive aid, the gain goes to Ukrainian civilians and grid operators, while Russia’s strike campaign comes under greater pressure. (investing.com)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Sinkevičius on BBC: if Lithuania were attacked, we would respond to the strike
On September 22, 2026, Mindaugas Sinkevičius told BBC Newsnight that Lithuania would hit back if Russia attacked and that evacuation plans are already in place. He said Lithuanians feel under constant threat because drones keep entering Lithuanian airspace. His remarks came after NATO jets shot down a drone over Lithuania last week. Sinkevičius also said not every contingency being considered by the state is being discussed publicly.
Why it matters
For civil protection agencies and city councils, the issue is whether evacuation plans are workable if airspace violations happen again. It also matters to NATO allies, who need a fast way to detect and neutralise new drones.
sources:15min.lt
Sports
Luis de la Fuente and the Spain national team reach an unprecedented agreement that ties his future for a long time
Spain have locked in Luis de la Fuente until 2032 after the RFEF board approved the deal unanimously on September 21. The move comes after Spain's 2026 World Cup win and keeps him in charge through Euro 2028, the 2030 World Cup and Euro 2032. The federation said the extension follows the title run that made Spain world champions again. Spain regroup on September 22 for a four-match stretch over 11 days. (rfef.es)
Why it matters
For Spain's players, it means continuity as they enter a run of four games in 11 days, and for the federation it removes uncertainty ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle. A long extension also reduces the risk of a post-title reset in the national team. (rfef.es)
sources:tv3.lt
World
Summary
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in Jerusalem today that if even one Israeli soldier or civilian is kidnapped, the entire Gaza City would be evacuated. He spoke of moving about 1 million residents south and threatened to destroy infrastructure as the army pushes deeper into the city.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in New York on Monday for the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly and a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two agreed to hold talks after a phone call on Sunday, and Zelenskyy said the discussion could change a lot in the war with Russia.
The Financial Times reported that Russian fintech A7 moved $6.9 billion through the global banking system by using forged documents and a layered payments network. Leaked internal files show the firm was set up in late 2024 as an alternative to Western payment rails, and banks named in the reporting include Standard Chartered, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, DBS and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
The U.S. State Department renewed its warning over the past two days for Americans travelling to the Middle East after fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Washington warned of flight cancellations, airspace closures and wider travel disruption, and in eastern Ukraine two people were killed in Russian strikes in a frontline region.
The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement in New York, with Washington set to establish two military bases in southern and eastern Greenland. At the United Nations, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Russia had essentially lost the war in Ukraine, even if the Kremlin refused to admit it.
sources: lrt.lt, delfi.lt, 15min.lt, lrytas.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt
Worth knowing
Term
United Nations General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly is the U.N.'s main deliberative body, where all member states are represented. It passes resolutions and holds its annual high-level session in New York.
Top stories
Politics
Katzas threatens: the entire Gaza City will be evacuated
On Sept. 22 in Jerusalem, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that if even one Israeli soldier or civilian is kidnapped, the entire Gaza City, home to about a million people, would be evacuated south. The warning came during a memorial for the Yom Kippur war dead. It followed earlier remarks this month in which Katz said the removal of Palestinians from Gaza was still under discussion, but had been frozen by U.S. President Donald Trump. Israel has already signalled plans to broaden its Gaza City operation, while most Gazans have already been displaced by the war. (naharnet.com)
Why it matters
For Gaza City residents, the warning points to another mass displacement order for civilians already living through war and shortages. It also ties the hostage issue to the future of the city’s remaining civilian infrastructure. (naharnet.com)
Who benefits
Israel’s government and military could gain leverage over Hamas, while Gaza City civilians and hostage families would bear the biggest cost. (naharnet.com)
What's next
The next thing to watch is whether the Israeli military moves ahead with the Gaza City operation and whether Hamas responds to Katz’s kidnapping warning. (naharnet.com)
sources:delfi.lt
Crime
Russian company A7 forging scheme allowed transferring 6.9 billion USD through global banks
The Financial Times says Russian fintech A7 moved $6.9 billion through the global banking system by using forged documents and a layered payments network. Leaked internal files show the firm was set up in late 2024 as an alternative to Western payment rails and handled cross-border Russian payments through August 2025. Banks named in the reporting include Standard Chartered, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, DBS and First Abu Dhabi Bank. The investigation links some of the flows to purchases of war-related and other sanctioned goods.
Why it matters
Global banks now have to scrutinise not just customers but the provenance of invoices and contracts, because forged paperwork can move sanctioned money through ordinary payment channels. That raises legal and compliance risk for lenders in Europe, the US and the Gulf that may have processed Russia-linked flows.
sources:vz.lt
Politics
Two people killed in eastern Ukraine by Russian strikes
15min reported at 08:42 on Sept. 22 that two people were killed in eastern Ukraine in Russian strikes. The attack comes from a front-line region where towns and villages are still hit regularly by rockets, drones and artillery. It shows the war remains lethal for civilians far from any clear military target. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
Civilians and rescue crews in eastern Ukraine are the ones paying the immediate price, as strikes hit populated areas and make movement, aid delivery and daily life harder. Each attack forces more people to choose between staying put and leaving home. (15min.lt)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Israeli minister: if at least one Israeli is kidnapped, all residents of Gaza City will be displaced
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Sept. 22 threatened to displace all residents of Gaza City if even one Israeli soldier or civilian is abducted, speaking at a Yom Kippur War memorial. He put the warning in the context of the army’s push deeper into Gaza City, where Israel has already told civilians to move south. Katz also threatened to destroy infrastructure, a step that would raise the legal and humanitarian stakes of the offensive. The city is home to about 1 million people, and the latest warnings add to pressure on already displaced families sheltering there. (naharnet.com)
Why it matters
For Gaza City residents, the threat points to another possible mass displacement order in a city of roughly 1 million people, many of them already uprooted. It raises the pressure on aid agencies and mediators trying to protect civilians and keep hostage talks alive. (naharnet.com)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
War in Ukraine: Zelenskyy arrives in the United States for UN General Assembly and talks with Trump
Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in New York on Sept. 22 for the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, with a meeting with Donald Trump on the schedule. The two agreed to talk after a phone call on Sunday, and Zelenskyy said the discussion could change a lot in the war with Russia. Trump is already in New York for the UN gathering and is using the week for a string of high-level meetings. The timing gives Kyiv a direct channel to press for more support as the war grinds on.
Why it matters
For Ukraine, the meeting matters because U.S. military and diplomatic backing still shapes air defence, ammunition flows and the tone of any talks with Moscow. European capitals will be watching for signs that Washington is prepared to tighten pressure on Russia or keep support more limited.
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Iran war: US warns Americans about travel to the Middle East
On Sept. 20, the State Department renewed its warning for Americans travelling to the Middle East and told U.S. citizens outside the region to reconsider trips through it. The alert followed fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and rising concern that the Iran war could spread fast. Washington warned of flight cancellations, airspace closures and wider travel disruption. U.S. missions across the region also put out extra security notices for Americans. (cbsnews.com)
Why it matters
The warning hits U.S. travellers, airlines and firms that rely on Gulf and Red Sea routes. If airspace tightens, detours will raise costs, delay cargo and push up insurance bills for carriers and travel companies. (cbsnews.com)
sources:delfi.lt