Lithuanian parliament approves Kapčiamiesčio military training ground in historic vote

The Lithuanian parliament’s initial vote to establish the Kapčiamiesčio military training ground marks a historic moment, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Wednesday, though she declined to comment on opposition from coalition partners.

“I assess last night’s vote very positively—it was a historic event where we all, regardless of whether we are in the ruling majority or the opposition, united for a shared strategic goal,” Ruginienė told reporters. “This is an example of how the Seimas can come together for crucial decisions.”

The prime minister repeatedly avoided addressing the fact that most members of the “Nemuno Aušra” (Dawn of Nemunas) faction—part of the ruling coalition—voted against or abstained on the bill. Seven “Nemuno Aušra” MPs, including party leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis, opposed the measure, along with three lawmakers from the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. Four additional “Nemuno Aušra” members and one from the “For Lithuania” Democratic faction abstained.

In total, 102 MPs supported the bill to create the Kapčiamiesčio military polygon and training area, 10 voted against, and five abstained. Environment Minister Simonas Gentvilas had earlier warned coalition partners that failing to back the project could trigger “certain political actions.”

The Social Democratic Party plans to address the issue at its Wednesday presidium meeting, while the Presidential Office stated that the coalition should be capable of resolving such critical matters without relying on opposition votes.

On air defence, Ruginienė said Lithuania already possesses core systems to ensure security, following Monday’s drone incident in Varėna district, where an unmanned aircraft exploded upon crashing. “We are not just searching—we are already acting,” she said. “We have the main systems in place and can feel safe, but we must do more.”

The prime minister added that additional defence systems are being installed, with further upgrades expected by year’s end. “We are moving at a fast enough pace—especially compared to a decade of inaction,” she said. “Some countries are even surprised by our speed in military procurement.”

The Lithuanian military confirmed the drone was not detected by radar, and while no explosives were found at the crash site, officials did not rule out their presence. Last July, a drone carrying an explosive device crashed in a Jonava district polygon after entering from Belarus, while another Belarusian drone, identified as a “Gerbera,” violated Lithuanian airspace on July 10 without posing a threat, according to authorities.