Lithuanian military exercise begins in Panevėžys with armed troops moving through city

The Lithuanian Armed Forces launched the large-scale tactical exercise Karaliaus kirtis in Panevėžys on Sunday, with around 1,000 soldiers and 300 state and municipal officials participating, reports LRT.

Conducted by the Iron Wolf Brigade’s King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, the drills will run day and night from May 3–5, testing unit readiness and interagency coordination in crisis and defence scenarios. Armed troops will move on foot and in tracked and wheeled vehicles, while pyrotechnics will simulate combat noise and lighting conditions.

Panevėžys and its district will function as a mock operational zone, with this year’s exercise incorporating the regional military command post for the first time. Authorities noted that while the scenario varies annually, the focus remains on joint response protocols for emergencies or wartime threats.

The drills aim to evaluate platoon-level combat preparedness and strengthen collaboration between military units and civilian institutions during extreme situations.