Vilnius marks Freedom Day as president warns Russia threat remains

Vilnius marked Freedom Day on Monday with a flag-raising ceremony in Lukiškės Square, commemorating the withdrawal of the last Russian military unit from Lithuania, LRT reported.

Before the ceremony, the Lithuanian Armed Forces band, the honour guard company and soldiers marched from Cathedral Square along Gediminas Avenue to Lukiškės Square. The Lithuanian state and historical flags were raised as the national anthem was performed.

President Gitanas Nausėda, Armed Forces Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras and Deputy Defence Minister Karolis Aleksa addressed the gathering.

Nausėda said Freedom Day represented the determination and courage of the Lithuanian people in seeking independence, but warned that freedom must continue to be protected.

“Freedom Day is not a distant echo of the past, but a living, vivid reality of a nation breathing freedom,” Nausėda said.

He highlighted the threat posed by Russia to Lithuania and other European countries and stressed the need to strengthen national defence and society’s resilience.

“But even Ukraine’s victory will not be enough if we forget ourselves and neglect the country’s defence. The old monster has not gone anywhere,” Nausėda said.

The president also stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine, saying that its security was also Lithuania’s security and that Ukraine’s freedom was Lithuania’s freedom as well.

Vaikšnoras recalled that he had taken part as a young officer in 1993 in taking over the territory of a Russian military unit in Rukla. “Thirty-three years ago, the Russian army was withdrawn from Lithuania. It is our duty to do everything to ensure that it never returns,” he said.

Aleksa called Freedom Day one of the most important turning points in the history of Lithuania’s restored independence. He said the withdrawal of Russian troops had become an important part of Lithuania’s path to independence and security.

Freedom Day is observed on August 31. In 1993, the last Russian military train left Lithuania that day, crossing the Kena railway station at 11:46 p.m. and leaving the country’s territory.

Lithuania declared independence on March 11, 1990. Before the Russian army’s withdrawal, about five divisions were stationed in the country, comprising approximately 34,500 troops, 1,000 tanks, 180 aircraft and 1,900 armoured vehicles.