Lithuania, Latvia Run First Joint Evacuation Drills
Volunteers travel by bus across the border in two exercises designed to test cross-border civilian evacuation.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Safety
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Lithuania and Latvia are conducting their first joint cross-border civilian evacuation drills, with up to 100 volunteers participating across two exercise days. The drills test public warning, registration, transport, reception, temporary accommodation, and food provision.
Why it matters
The exercises are designed to test preparedness for large-scale crises in which evacuation may cross state borders. The drills come after US intelligence warned in August that Moscow could target Poland and the Baltic states through sabotage, attacks on critical infrastructure, or false-flag operations.
The exercises involve up to 100 volunteers over two days, November 5 and November 10, with bus transport across the border. Results, outcomes, and any lessons identified from the drills have not been reported in the source material.
The players
Lithuania
A Baltic NATO member state whose government approved a detailed population evacuation plan this year and is conducting the joint drills with Latvia.
Latvia
A Baltic NATO member state co-organizing the cross-border evacuation exercises with Lithuania.
The details
On November 5, participants travel by bus from Daugavpils in Latvia to Pasvalys in Lithuania, and on November 10 the exercise runs in the opposite direction from Šiauliai in Lithuania to Ķekava in Latvia. Lithuania approved a detailed population evacuation plan earlier this year, and the drills test the processes that plan would rely on in both directions.
Timeline
August: US intelligence warns European governments that Moscow could target Poland and the Baltic states.
This year: Lithuania approves a detailed population evacuation plan.
November 5: First joint evacuation drill runs from Daugavpils to Pasvalys.
November 10: Second joint drill runs from Šiauliai to Ķekava.
Seasonal Patterns
The drills extend Lithuania's detailed population evacuation plan approved this year by testing whether its procedures can operate across the Latvian border. They come as US intelligence warned in August of possible Russian sabotage and hybrid operations against Poland and the Baltic states.
Residents of the region should follow official civil defense guidance on evacuation procedures and registration once local authorities publish details. The drills illustrate that evacuation may involve crossing borders, so familiarizing yourself with official warning channels and transport and reception arrangements in your area is practical preparation.
The takeaway
Cross-border evacuation is only workable if warning, registration, transport, and reception systems have been tested in practice, which is the purpose of these drills. Checking how your local authorities would issue evacuation warnings is a useful step before any emergency.
Further reading
For related guidance on preparedness, see the Safety section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News.
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