Lithuania plans civilian training centres with shooting ranges in all counties

Lithuania will establish multi-functional civilian training centres in all 10 of its counties over the next three years, featuring classrooms, shooting ranges, and tactical training facilities, LRT reports.

Each centre will accommodate up to 50,000 visitors annually, offering courses in civilian defence, drone operation, marksmanship, and competitive shooting. The initiative, announced by Deputy Defence Minister Tomas Godliauskas, aims to strengthen public involvement in national defence.

“The goal is to create specialised multi-purpose spaces in municipalities dedicated to engaging citizens in total defence,” Godliauskas said at a press conference. He noted that 18 of Lithuania’s 60 municipalities currently lack any shooting ranges or tactical training grounds, creating “a certain vacuum.”

The centres will serve civilian militias, volunteer defence units, reserve officers, and active-duty soldiers. Funding will be split equally between the Ministry of National Defence and local governments, which will own and manage the completed facilities. Existing infrastructure will be repurposed where possible, with new construction planned in areas without suitable buildings.

Municipalities have already been invited to submit project proposals, with completion expected by 2029. The defence ministry has formed a working group to evaluate submissions alongside military leadership and local authorities.

Audrius Klišonis, president of the Lithuanian Municipalities Association and mayor of Plungė District, endorsed the plan, emphasising its role in increasing the number of citizens capable of armed defence. “The preparedness of citizens to defend their state is one of the most critical aspects of national security,” he said.

The initiative follows rising gun ownership in Lithuania, with authorities citing a need for expanded training infrastructure to support responsible firearm use among civilians, hunters, athletes, and military personnel.