Lithuanian border municipalities warn of evacuation problems in event of Russian attack
Civil protection officials in Lithuanian municipalities bordering Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast are warning of serious difficulties in evacuating residents if Russia were to attack, Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported on Sept. 26.
Civil protection officials in Lithuanian municipalities neighboring Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast have expressed concerns over potential difficulties in evacuating residents during a Russian attack, according to LRT. The Dieveniškės Salient region, near the Belarusian border, may face the most challenging evacuation scenario.
Pavelas Gojus, representing preparedness services in the Salcininkai district municipality, confirmed that a coordinated evacuation plan and routes exist. However, he noted that the main road might be obstructed, prompting authorities to utilize secondary roads instead. Gojus also pointed out that the municipality's ability to evacuate residents depends on the time available.
If the evacuation had to occur within a single day, the available transport would be insufficient; however, a two- or three-day timeframe might allow for successful evacuation.
Valdas Tamulevičius, responsible for emergency preparedness in Varena district near the Belarusian border, emphasized the greatest concern for evacuating residents with special needs, such as bedridden patients. He explained that most residents would likely evacuate using private vehicles, while the municipal administration would organize transportation for those requiring assistance. Tamulevičius lamented the lack of sufficient ambulances to accommodate all residents within the planned three-day evacuation window.
Similar concerns were voiced by municipalities bordering Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast. Jurbarkas district administration stated that evacuating around a quarter of the district's population, approximately 5,700 people, would be necessary, but local resources would only facilitate the evacuation of about 5,000 residents. Challenges cited include mobilizing specialized transport for bedridden patients and addressing potential communication disruptions.
Transport capacity, communications, and managing large populations were identified as major challenges in Pagėgiai district, where current exercises are testing the evacuation of residents to Telšiai district.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
