Lazdijai exercise simulates reception of 500 refugees

A simulation of evacuating and receiving 500 refugees at the Lazdijai hippodrome on Saturday marked the end of Lithuania’s 2026 national mobilisation exercise, “Vytis Vault,” LRT reported, citing BNS.

The exercise scenario envisaged people fleeing a fictitious military aggression in Estonia and Latvia, travelling through Lithuania towards Poland, as well as Lithuanian citizens. A humanitarian camp was set up at the hippodrome using civil-protection supplies from the state reserve.

The camp had about 90 tents: 60 for accommodation, 20 for medical care and 10 for administration. Around 10 non-governmental organisations and 70 of their representatives took part, alongside about 50 officials from the Fire and Rescue Department, the State Border Guard Service and the police.

The camp was prepared to house 500 people, who began arriving at 9 a.m. A Fire and Rescue Department representative said the grounds could accommodate a camp for about 2,000 people if needed.

Lithuanian Red Cross staff registered arrivals without checking their identity documents. The International Organization for Migration and border guards interviewed some people. The migration agency asked about their routes, plans and urgent needs, while border guards checked whether anyone was listed in mobilisation plans or wanted in Lithuania or other countries.

Meals were provided through vouchers issued during registration. The camp also had accommodation arrangements for women, men, families and people with disabilities, supplies such as clothing and hygiene products, and a field hospital for first aid. The migration agency said anonymised survey findings could be shared in near real time with state institutions, including the National Crisis Management Centre and the Foreign Ministry.