Lithuania holds two-day mobilization and host nation support drills in Kaunas region

Six municipalities in Lithuania’s Kaunas region completed a two-day mobilization and host nation support exercise this week, the Ministry of National Defence announced on Tuesday.

The drills tested local authorities’ ability to maintain logistics chains, provide food supplies to residents, conduct property requisition procedures, and protect or evacuate cultural heritage sites in a crisis scenario.

“Municipal preparedness during mobilization is a critical component of national resilience,” said Deputy Defence Minister Tomas Godliauskas in a statement. “Such exercises allow us to assess existing capabilities and strengthen inter-agency coordination for real-world threats.”

Led by the Mobilization and Civil Resistance Department, the training emphasized practical validation of municipal response plans. “These drills help identify weaknesses so we can respond swiftly when needed,” said department head Virginijus Vitalijus Vilkelis, noting that municipalities designed their own tasks to simulate realistic conditions.

Participating districts—Kaunas city, Kaunas district, Kaišiadorys, Kėdainiai, Prienai, and Raseiniai—practiced tasks including temporary care for mobilized troops’ children, activating mobilization command groups, issuing public alerts, and managing food distribution and asset seizures.

The Kaunas region exercises mark the third and final phase of this year’s mobilization drills, following earlier sessions in Jonava (early May) and Birštonas (mid-May). Post-exercise reviews will provide municipalities with recommendations for improvement.

Similar drills are scheduled for Telšiai, Marijampolė, Tauragė, and Alytus regions before year-end.