Kapčiamiestis residents divided over planned military training area

Residents of Kapčiamiestis, a town in Lazdijai district, have received information leaflets about a planned military training area, but some say the material contains nothing new, LRT reported.

Infrastructure is currently being upgraded in the town. The local school building is being prepared for military use, while the former children’s care centre is being reconstructed to house municipal institutions.

Marija Janulevičienė, who lives in Žmirklės, received the leaflet three weeks ago. In winter, she was informed in writing that she would have to leave her homestead and would receive moral compensation of 51,885 euros.

Janulevičienė said that all information so far had arrived in writing and that nobody had visited her to discuss the plans in person. She said the leaflet merely repeated that a shooting range was being planned and residents would be relocated.

“I will do nothing. I will sit here and I will not move anywhere. If they need it, let them move me. I will not move anything,” she said.

Janulevičienė inherited the homestead from her parents together with her sisters and brother. Her family lives there throughout the summer, growing vegetables and picking mushrooms and berries. The other heirs visit at weekends.

She said the family was unhappy about losing the place, which is surrounded by old-growth forests and nature reserves. “There are all kinds of birds here, and bison graze in the meadows,” she said.

Information from the Ministry of National Defence reached all residents of the local administrative area. Tauras Mekas, who spends summers at his homestead within the planned military training territory, said people would have to adapt.

“I spent 27 years equipping this house, and I no longer have the means to equip a new one,” said Mekas, who lives in Menciškė. “At first it was depressing, but then I thought, well, this too will pass.”

Kapčiamiestis resident Romas Baranauskas said the plans did not directly affect him because he lives outside the area where the activities will take place. However, he expected possible disruption from gunfire.

“If they shoot loudly, there will be inconveniences. When the Belarusians shoot, the training area is about 18 kilometres from us, and if they shoot loudly, our windows shake,” he said.

Although the military training area is still only being planned, all residents have noticed changes linked to it. The Ministry of National Defence has allocated almost 1.5 million euros for repairs to roads and streets.

Lazdijai Mayor Ausma Miškinienė said promises had turned into concrete work and would improve the town’s appearance and residents’ quality of life. She said investments were also being made in culture, healthcare, business and tourism.

The former school building has been transferred to the Ministry of National Defence. According to Miškinienė, it will include spaces for military offices and administration, as well as areas for sport and leisure that all Kapčiamiestis residents will be invited to use.

The former children’s care centre, described as an abandoned building, will also be renovated. Kapčiamiestis administrative head Virginijus Golekas said the library and museum would move there, providing more space, particularly for the Pliaterytė Museum.

Next year, the Lazdijai municipality will receive almost 3 million euros from the defence budget for road infrastructure, attracting investment and strengthening the healthcare sector.