Lithuania’s acting interior minister and Vilnius mayor discuss capital’s security and migration management

Acting Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius met with Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas on Thursday to discuss strategic issues related to the capital’s security and migration management, LRT reports.

The meeting focused on strengthening civil security amid migration flows and protecting critical infrastructure. Kondratovičius emphasised that Vilnius’s resilience, like the country’s overall security, depends on close cooperation between state institutions and municipalities, which are best positioned to assess local risks.

“This partnership is crucial, from daily prevention to protecting critical infrastructure and preparing for higher-level threats,” Kondratovičius said.

He stressed the need for a balanced migration policy and effective implementation, ensuring that no hostile foreign nationals enter Lithuania. While acknowledging employers’ needs, he underlined that security remains the top priority. Kondratovičius also noted that foreigners living in Lithuania should learn the Lithuanian language and that municipalities play a key role in organising and implementing integration processes for migrants.

The discussion also covered the shelter system. The Interior Ministry has already allocated over €30 million to renovate more than 800 shelters nationwide, including nearly €4.8 million for 92 shelters in Vilnius. To better prepare for aerial threats, remote door access control systems will be installed in shelters, with the ministry covering the costs for municipalities.

Public Security Service (VST) chief General Viktoras Grabauskas presented concrete steps to implement cooperation between the service and Vilnius municipality in protecting strategic sites. Special attention will be given to ten priority objects—including the capital’s water, electricity, and heating supply systems—with enhanced protection, joint tactical exercises, and training.

In response to growing drone threats, Vilnius is expanding aerial target monitoring, identification, and neutralisation platforms, fully integrated with Lithuanian military capabilities. The VST is also developing mobile response and fire teams to ensure physical countermeasures and critical infrastructure protection in hybrid threat or provocation scenarios.