Lithuanian military demining teams neutralised 252 explosives in April

The Lithuanian Armed Forces neutralised 252 explosives last month, the military reported on Friday, as warmer spring weather led to a sharp rise in discoveries of unexploded ordnance across the country.

According to a statement, engineers from the Colonel Juozas Vitkaus Battalion responded to 80 public reports in the first two weeks of April alone. Most call-outs occurred in Klaipėda, Vilkaviškis, Šakiai and Vilnius districts.

Artillery shells of various calibres accounted for the largest share of discoveries (198 items), followed by mortar mines (21). Demining teams also recovered 13 aviation bombs weighing between 10 and 100 kg each.

Captain Domas Laukaitis, head of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, noted that while bombs are not an everyday find, they frequently surface in former bombing ranges such as Sulinkiai in Radviliškis district, where peat extraction disturbs buried munitions. Metal detector enthusiasts also occasionally uncover dangerous relics.

The military warned that warming temperatures, agricultural work, and construction projects have increased the daily rate of call-outs to ten or more. Only six of April’s reports turned out to be false alarms; all other discoveries posed genuine risks.

Authorities urge the public not to touch or move any suspicious objects. Instead, they should mark the location, retreat to a safe distance, and dial the emergency number 112.