03:00 09-06-2026

Lithuania Opens Suwalki Corridor NATO Drills Near Russia

G. Tiška (Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania), GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

Lithuania begins KASP drills near the Suwalki Corridor, focusing on NATO coordination, civilian cooperation and operations close to Kaliningrad Region.

Lithuania has launched exercises for the National Defence Volunteer Forces, known as KASP, near the Suwalki Corridor close to Russia’s Kaliningrad Region. The drills began on June 8 and will run through June 14, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry’s press service said.

The maneuvers are being held under the name Tvirtas skydas 2, or Strong Shield 2. According to the ministry, troops will train in conditions designed to be as close to real-life situations as possible. The focus will be on how headquarters and units plan operations, carry them out on the ground, and coordinate both with one another and with other parts of Lithuania’s armed forces and NATO partners.

Members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union will also take part in the drills. Lithuania’s Defence Ministry says one of the goals is to strengthen cooperation between the military and civil society. Organizers expect this format to help build public trust in Lithuanian forces and NATO allies, while giving service members practical experience in carrying out tasks in a civilian environment.

The exercises will also involve coordination with state and municipal bodies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. A significant part of the activity will take place outside military training grounds, on civilian territory, both during the day and at night.

The Suwalki Corridor is a stretch along the Lithuanian-Polish border between Belarus and the Kaliningrad Region. It is less than 100 kilometers long and links Lithuania with the main territory of the European Union.