Reservists hone combat skills in Engineer Thunder drills

Active reserve soldiers are refining their engineering and combat skills during the national-level Engineer Thunder 2026 exercises, the Lithuanian Armed Forces reported on Thursday.

The drills, underway at the Kazlų Rūda and Gaižiūnai training grounds, involve troops from the Colonel Juozas Vitkaus Engineer Battalion of the 1st Division, with over 150 active reserve soldiers making up the majority of participants. The exercises began in early June.

Reservists have reviewed the basics of individual training, including combat shooting drills, reconnaissance, and area clearance operations. They have also deepened their knowledge of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) defence, conducted demolition work, improved tactical medical skills, and trained in battlefield operations.

Engineering tasks have included digging trenches, setting up explosive and non-explosive obstacles, preparing defensive positions, and ensuring troop mobility and counter-mobility. The three-week training aims to refresh and solidify reservists’ military skills, assess their readiness for engineering support tasks, and strengthen their ability to operate alongside other Lithuanian Armed Forces units. Participants have also familiarised themselves with new battalion equipment.

According to the military, the Engineer Thunder 2026 exercises are a crucial part of active reserve training, enabling soldiers to maintain combat readiness and ensuring seamless integration into Lithuanian Armed Forces units when needed.