29 September 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Lithuania's Interior Ministry has handed a hybrid cyberattack on the EPEKIS system to law enforcement. The platform supports the issuance of identity and other documents for Lithuanian citizens and foreigners, and officials have tightened data-flow monitoring while investigators determine whether any data were stolen and how widely users were affected.

Lithuania will test its public warning and information system nationwide today from 11:52am to 11:55am during the mobilisation drill Vyčio skliautas 2026. Sirens will sound, warning messages will be sent to mobile phones, and public radio and television will carry the alert; authorities want residents to complete a short survey afterwards.

The Interior Ministry also said more than 200 police and Public Security Service officers will be deployed in Vilnius on Saturday for migration-related rallies. The city has approved three gatherings, and one pro-migration event was moved to Vinco Kudirka Square, across the street from a National Alliance protest. Officers will keep the groups apart and respond to provocations or public-order breaches.

Migrants at the Pabradė reception centre said today that living conditions still feel like prison. In historical context, only 26 of 170 residents there were free of movement restrictions last November, and in August the Reception and Integration Agency discussed ombudsman recommendations with Social Security and Labour Minister Inga Ruginienė.

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and acting Economy and Innovation Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said Lithuania is ready to host U.S. troops on a permanent basis if Washington decides to deploy them. Prosecutors also opened a pre-trial investigation into the cyberattack on the Interior Ministry.

sources: tv3.lt, lrt.lt, delfi.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt, lrytas.lt

Investigation opened into attack on the Internal Affairs Ministry system

Lithuania's Interior Ministry said on Sept. 25 that its information system had been hit by a hybrid cyberattack and the case had been handed to law enforcement. The system is run by the ministry's Information Technology and Communications Department, according to the ministry statement. Officials have not yet disclosed whether data were stolen or operations were disrupted. The episode has been pushed into a criminal investigation. (vrm.lrv.lt)

Why it matters

The outcome will determine whether the ministry has to tighten access controls, network protection and internal procedures immediately. If data theft is confirmed, the impact could reach officers, migrants and other users of state systems. (vrm.lrv.lt)

Who benefits

Law enforcement and cybersecurity specialists gain the most from a probe that can expose weak points, while the ministry's IT system and its users stand to lose if a breach or data theft is confirmed. (vrm.lrv.lt)

What's next

The next step is the law enforcement finding on whether the attack left traces in the system and whether the ministry will need extra protective measures. (vrm.lrv.lt)

sources:delfi.lt lrytas.lt lrt.lt

Politics

Cyberattack against the VRM: investigation started

Lithuania's Interior Ministry has opened an investigation after a cyberattack hit the EPEKIS system run by the Information and Communications Department. The platform supports public services linked to the issuance of identity and other documents for Lithuanian citizens and foreigners. Officials said the system had already been hardened with two-factor authentication after a previous incident, and monitoring has now been stepped up further. The probe will determine whether any data were stolen and how far the breach reached.

Why it matters

People who used VRM services tied to identity and document issuance may be exposed if access records or personal data were taken. Other state agencies are also watching closely, because one compromised system can trigger checks across connected databases and access rights.

sources:tv3.lt

Crime

Former world snooker champion jailed for sexual exploitation of a minor

Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott, 49, was sentenced in Edinburgh on Sept. 29, 2026, to seven years in prison for sexually abusing two children in cases spanning 1993-96 and 2006-10. Dott denied the charges, but a jury convicted him last month and the judge said he had committed a gross breach of trust. His name was added to the sex offenders register, and he was taken into custody after sentencing. Snooker's governing body had already suspended him in April 2025 and later removed him from its Hall of Fame. (apnews.com)

Why it matters

For the victims' families, the sentence closes a case that stretched across nearly three decades and ends with a formal finding of abuse. For snooker, it sharpens scrutiny of how governing bodies handle trusted public figures once abuse allegations emerge. (apnews.com)

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

In Vilnius, over two protests on migration more than 200 police officers will work

On September 29, 2026, the Interior Ministry said more than 200 police and Public Security Service officers will be deployed in Vilnius on Saturday for migration-related rallies. The city has approved three gatherings, and one pro-migration event was moved to Vinco Kudirka Square, across the street from a National Alliance protest. Officials say officers will keep the groups apart and respond quickly to any provocation or public-order breach. Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas said the layout leaves no room for improvisation.

Why it matters

The rallies will hit central Vilnius, where several hundred people with opposing views on migration will be clustered in one area. Police carry the main burden, since they must separate the groups and intervene fast if tempers flare near parliament and Vinco Kudirka Square.

sources:delfi.lt

Society

Sirens will wail across Lithuania today – here is what you must do

At 11.52am to 11.55am on September 29, Lithuania will test its public warning and information system nationwide, with sirens sounding for three minutes. The exercise is part of the national mobilisation drill “Vyčio skliautas 2026”, run by the crisis management and mobilisation authorities. Warning messages will also be sent to mobile phones, and the test will be announced on public radio and television. Authorities are asking people to fill in a short post-test survey so they can assess coverage and performance. (lt72.lt)

Why it matters

For residents, the key point is that sirens and phone alerts will be tested nationwide at the same time, so the signal should be treated as a drill, not an emergency. For authorities, the exercise shows whether alerts reach people in time if a real crisis hits. (lt72.lt)

sources:tv3.lt

Society

Migrants at the Pabradė Registration Center: 'It still feels like a prison'

Migrants at the Pabradė reception centre say the conditions still feel like prison life. The site has long faced criticism over movement restrictions, and on Nov. 7, 2025, only 26 of 170 residents there were not subject to such limits. In August, the Reception and Integration Agency discussed the centre and ombudsman recommendations with Social Security and Labour Minister Inga Ruginienė. The key question now is whether those complaints lead to changes inside the facility.

Why it matters

Asylum seekers and other migrants housed in Pabradė feel the impact directly through movement limits that shape daily routines, family contact and access to services. For the authorities, the issue is whether they can keep security controls in place without deepening the rights concerns now hanging over the facility.

sources:lrt.lt

Europe

Summary

Russia has struck Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities again over the past two days, killing at least eight people. Yesterday a Russian jet-powered drone hit the National Academy of Sciences building in central Kyiv, killing at least one person. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 120 attack drones over the day, 90 of them jet-powered, and another hit a hospital building in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air force said it neutralised 112 drones from late the previous evening to yesterday morning, but strikes were recorded at 26 locations. Ukrainian officials also said Russia fired more than 2,200 attack drones, about 1,650 aerial bombs and 38 missiles over the past week.

Ukraine said its air defences had neutralized 95 Russian drones since morning. In Sumy, Russian strikes on the city centre killed two people and wounded others, including children.

sources: delfi.lt, lrt.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, lrytas.lt, tv3.lt

Worth knowing

Term

VATESI

VATESI is Lithuania’s State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate. It oversees nuclear safety and reviews cross-border risks linked to projects such as the Astravets plant.

War in Ukraine: Russia launched ballistic missiles at Kyiv

On 27 September, Russian strikes across Ukraine, including Kyiv, killed eight people and damaged 16 sites, among them 12 private homes on the capital’s outskirts, a warehouse and a manufacturing plant. Ukrainian officials said Russia fired more than 2,200 attack drones, about 1,650 aerial bombs and 38 missiles of various types over the week, with a substantial share being ballistic. Kyiv and other cities were again placed under air raid alerts as ballistic threats approached the capital and nearby regions. The strikes came as Moscow rejected calls to halt the war during UN talks.

Why it matters

Kyiv civilians bear the immediate cost, as the strikes hit homes, warehouses and industrial sites. That puts more strain on emergency services, local utilities and businesses trying to operate in wartime conditions.

Who benefits

Russia’s assault units gain tactical pressure, while Kyiv residents, civilian infrastructure and Ukrainian manufacturers take the losses.

What's next

Over the next 24 hours, Ukraine’s air force and Kyiv city authorities will assess the damage and monitor for new ballistic missile alerts, while Volodymyr Zelensky’s team presses allies for more air-defence systems.

sources:delfi.lt lrt.lt

Energy

Belarus plans a new Astravets NPP unit, experts speak plainly: a catastrophe possible

Belarus is moving ahead with plans for another unit at the Astravets nuclear plant, and Lithuanian nuclear safety officials say the project would deepen risks on the border. VATESI has again pressed Minsk on unresolved safety concerns at Astravets while Lithuania is also reviewing a separate radioactive waste storage plan linked to the plant. The dispute is no longer just about the reactor itself. It now covers waste handling, environmental exposure and regional security.

Why it matters

Border communities would face greater exposure to accident and pollution risks, while Lithuania’s energy and environment agencies would need to keep spending on monitoring and contingency planning. The standoff also hardens the political freeze with Minsk, making any technical safety dialogue harder.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Russia struck a school housing about 40 children

Teachers and students were evacuated from a school in Sumy on September 29 before four powerful glide bombs hit during classes, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The same attack also struck a residential area nearby, killing two people. Sumy, in northern Ukraine near the Russian border, has been hit repeatedly in the war. (apnews.com)

Why it matters

Schoolchildren and families in Sumy now have to plan around sudden evacuation orders, which disrupts classes and daily travel across the city. Strikes on nearby residential areas also force rescuers and medics to split resources across multiple sites at once. (apnews.com)

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Russia attacked Kyiv with combat drones

On September 28, 2026, a Russian jet-powered drone struck the National Academy of Sciences building in central Kyiv, killing at least one person, Reuters reported. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 120 attack drones over the day, 90 of them jet-powered, and one hit a hospital building in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air force said it had neutralised 112 drones in the overnight wave from September 27 to 28, with strikes recorded at 26 locations. The assault hit the capital in daylight and left smoke and fires across the city centre. (marketscreener.com)

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, the strike shows that jet-powered drones can reach the city centre and hit not only housing but also scientific and medical facilities. That broadens the strain on air defence and raises direct risks for staff and patients in capital institutions. (marketscreener.com)

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Vladimir Putin increased the military

Vladimir Putin on Sept. 28, 2026 signed a decree lifting Russia’s authorised military strength by 15,500 to 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 service members. It is the fourth such increase this year. The move comes as Russia keeps grinding through the war in Ukraine and after earlier manpower hikes in March, June and July. The decree was published on Russia’s official legal information portal.

Why it matters

For Ukraine, the extra headcount points to more pressure on the battlefield and on occupied areas. For European security planners, it signals that Moscow is still investing in a longer war, not a quick de-escalation.

sources:15min.lt tv3.lt lrt.lt

Politics

Estonia: defense company arson ordered by Russian services

Estonia said on September 29 that Russian intelligence services ordered the August arson attack on Milrem Robotics, a defense company in Tallinn. The fire broke out on August 17 in Lasnamäe and was later treated as suspected arson, with three suspects detained in Latvia and handed over to Estonia. The case fits a wider pattern of sabotage allegations across Europe aimed at defense and Ukraine-related targets. Estonian authorities have already linked a separate 2025 arson case to Russian intelligence.

Why it matters

For defense firms in the Baltics, it means higher security costs and tighter protection of plants and warehouses. For Latvian and Estonian law enforcement, it adds another cross-border case that has to be traced through handlers, money and the people on the ground.

sources:delfi.lt

World

Summary

About 100 Israeli settlers stormed the Jalud and Qusra area in the West Bank today, threw rocks, blocked roads and set Palestinian property on fire. Three Israeli security personnel were hurt, police detained three suspects, and Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack.

Moscow tightened the blackout around energy exports yesterday after Vladimir Putin signed a decree restricting publication of oil-product transaction prices, buyers, sellers, routes and destinations. The order also limits some customs data and extends earlier secrecy around oil-output statistics to a wider stretch of the export chain. Thailand approved $122 million in emergency aid today after floods since mid-September killed at least 19 people and affected more than 2.6 million. In Bangkok, nearly 6,000 residents were moved to 234 shelters after weekend downpours, and several districts and roads remain under water.

Amnesty International said today that Malian troops and members of Russia's Wagner group killed at least 34 civilians during joint operations along the Mauritanian border from 2023 to 2025. The group said its findings are based on interviews with 119 Malian refugees and include allegations of torture, simulated drowning, beatings and electric shocks.

In technology, attention is split between Anthropic's IPO filing, which warns of existential risks to humanity, and SpaceX's Starship, which reached orbit for the first time.

A glacier collapse in Nepal triggered a deadly wave of ice and debris, with reports pointing to a disaster on a vast scale. Amnesty International said Mali's army and Russian mercenaries committed war crimes.

sources: 15min.lt, lrytas.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, vz.lt, lrt.lt

Worth knowing

Term

Rome Statute

The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. It sets the court's jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

War in Ukraine: Western sanctions forced Putin to issue a new decree

Vladimir Putin on Sept. 28 signed a decree tightening secrecy around Russian energy and oil-product data, in a move aimed at blunting US and Western sanctions. The order restricts publication of transaction details, including prices, buyers, sellers, routes and destinations, and also curbs some customs data. Russia had already hidden parts of its oil-output statistics, but the new rules widen the blackout to more of the export chain. The move comes as the West keeps pressure on Russia’s energy sector over the war in Ukraine. (marketscreener.com)

Why it matters

Sanctions monitors, energy analysts and reporters will have less visibility into Russian oil and fuel flows, making it harder to track buyers, routes and prices. The Kremlin’s energy apparatus and its trading intermediaries gain from the reduced scrutiny. (marketscreener.com)

Who benefits

Russia’s energy bureaucracy and export intermediaries gain, while Western enforcement agencies, researchers and independent media lose visibility. (marketscreener.com)

What's next

The next question is how Russian companies and customs will apply the new limits in practice, since disclosure is still allowed only when a deal participant releases the data. (marketscreener.com)

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the West Bank, Netanyahu condemned the attack

About 100 Israeli settlers stormed the Jalud and Qusra area in the occupied West Bank on Sept. 29, hurling rocks, blocking roads and setting Palestinian property on fire as the army tried to return a Palestinian family home under a court order. Three Israeli security personnel were hurt and police detained three suspects. Netanyahu condemned the violence, blaming a small group of rioters and saying they were harming Israel's standing and disrupting the military. The clash came after weeks of tension in the same area, where settlers had already besieged Palestinian homes.

Why it matters

Palestinian families in the West Bank are the immediate losers. They face forced displacement, arson and clashes with Israeli forces even when the courts order them back into their homes, while the army and police are pulled into another internal security crisis.

sources:lrt.lt

Environment

Thailand harrowing scenes after massive floods: dozens dead, thousands evacuated

Thailand approved $122 million in emergency aid on Sept. 29 after floods and torrential rain since mid-September killed at least 19 people and hit more than 2.6 million. In Bangkok, nearly 6,000 residents were moved into 234 shelters after weekend downpours swamped parts of the capital. Officials said the standing water should clear in two to three days if the forecast holds, but several districts and roads remain under water. The government also declared leave for civil servants in Bangkok and three nearby provinces to free up hands for relief work.

Why it matters

Millions of households now need temporary shelter, food and transport support, while flooded roads are slowing movement in Bangkok and nearby provinces. Small firms, logistics operators and public services are taking the hit as staff and infrastructure are pulled into response work.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

Amnesty International says the Malian army and Russian mercenaries committed war crimes

Amnesty International on Sept. 29 said Malian troops and members of Russia's Wagner group killed at least 34 civilians in seven locations along the Mauritanian border during joint operations from 2023 to 2025. The rights group said it interviewed 119 Malian refugees in Mauritania and shared its findings with Mali's authorities on Aug. 3, but had not received a response by publication time. It said some victims were tortured to death, while others were subjected to simulated drowning, beatings and electric shocks. Amnesty urged impartial investigations, and said the ICC still has jurisdiction over crimes committed before June 23, 2027, despite Mali's June 2026 withdrawal from the Rome Statute. (amnesty.org)

Why it matters

For civilians along the Mali-Mauritania border, the killings and torture deepen displacement and push more families into Mauritania, where hundreds of thousands of Malian refugees are already registered. If Bamako does not open credible cases, accountability is likely to move further toward international courts rather than local justice. (amnesty.org)

sources:15min.lt