Lithuanian municipalities propose underground shelters doubling as civil defence training hubs

The Lithuanian Municipalities Association (LSA) has proposed constructing underground shelters across regions that would serve as bomb-proof refuges during emergencies and as multi-purpose civil defence training centres in peacetime, LRT reports.

According to Mantas Varaška, mayor of Kazlų Rūda and an LSA board member, the facilities would be reinforced to withstand radiation, sabotage attempts, and other threats while functioning as spaces for military skills training, sports, and public preparedness programs. “Our goal is not to criticise state decisions but to offer better solutions,” Varaška said at a press conference, noting that the LSA has already begun coordinating the technical model with government ministries.

The proposed structures—minimally visible above ground—would include a 50-metre main hall capable of sheltering up to 1,500 people, or 3,000 in a 100-metre version. Above-ground sections could be adapted for parking, youth spaces, or playgrounds where needed. The LSA claims initial feedback from institutions, including the Ministry of National Defence (KAM), has been positive.

Deputy Defence Minister Tomas Godliauskas confirmed the ministry’s interest in expanding such facilities nationwide, emphasising their dual role in crisis preparedness and skills development. “These spaces would support our long-standing plan to train hundreds of thousands of citizens in combat skills—shooting, drone operation, medical response, and cyber resilience—over the coming years,” he said. The ministry is accelerating collaboration with municipalities on defence infrastructure, including joint funding and training exercises.

The LSA envisions the shelters as part of a broader network, with at least one civil defence hub in each of Lithuania’s 10 counties. The association has already drafted technical specifications and initiated discussions with the Radiation Safety Centre to ensure compliance with safety standards.