Klaipėda region exercises test crisis response across 30 organisations
Monday 26th October 2026 on 14:30 in
Lithuania
More than 30 institutions and organisations took part in military exercises in the Klaipėda region to practise protecting residents and maintaining essential services during a threat to national security, LRT reported on Monday, citing the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The exercises, called Thunder Bastion / Black Hawk 2026, ran from October 22 to 25 in Klaipėda, Gargždai and Šilutė. They involved military commandant’s offices, three Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union battalions, military commandant troops and civilian partners.
The Klaipėda Regional Military Commandant’s Office brought participants together. In a crisis, its tasks would include helping local governments and healthcare facilities continue operating, keeping water and electricity supplies running, and ensuring residents feel safe and can access essential services.
More than 1,700 armed and unarmed riflemen took part. Armed riflemen guarded facilities supplying electricity, heating and water, patrolled, controlled the movement of people and vehicles, and carried out territorial defence tasks. Drone teams conducted reconnaissance, while unarmed riflemen supported evacuations, food provision, supply efforts and the stabilisation of injured people.
The exercises also tested the resilience of Klaipėda district municipality’s IT infrastructure against cyber threats and included information operations. Representatives of municipalities, police, the fire and rescue service, medical services, other state institutions and non-governmental organisations also participated.
Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union commander Colonel Linas Idzelis said the organisation’s capabilities had grown, particularly in the use of drones and medical support. He said cooperation with military commandant’s offices had improved, with participants understanding their roles and working together more effectively.
The joint tasks were intended to help participants understand one another’s capabilities and practise how specialists from different fields could support their communities, the Lithuanian Armed Forces said.