National-Level Exercises Simulate Incident Response for Kaliningrad Transit
At Kaunas railway station, the Police Department organized state-level functional exercises on the control of simplified transit of Russian Federation citizens through Lithuanian territory. During the exercises, an incident was simulated, and the readiness of responsible agencies to respond to potential threats was tested.
“The security and reliability of the special Kaliningrad transit scheme are a cornerstone of our national security. We must ensure that transit through Lithuanian territory occurs strictly according to established rules, and any potential violations or threats are identified and neutralized immediately. Coordinated work among agencies and clear operational algorithms strengthen the resilience of the state and public confidence in our safety,” said Minister of the Interior Vladislavas Kondratovičius.
The purpose of the exercises was to test the procedure for controlling Russian Federation citizens traveling via simplified transit through Lithuania, approved by order of the Minister of the Interior at the end of last year. The new procedure ensures unified cooperation among state institutions and agencies and enhanced control along both railway and road routes.
According to the approved algorithm, the State Border Guard Service, Lithuanian Police, and the Public Security Service coordinate transit monitoring, respond to incidents and special events, and ensure compliance with established transit rules. Any incident related to Kaliningrad transit becomes a response priority – from illegal disembarkation from a train to other potential threats.
To further strengthen transit security, additional funding is currently being sought from national and European Union financial instruments. The updated algorithm foresees that institutions under the Ministry of the Interior and AB “Lithuanian Railways” will implement projects for updating, modernizing, and maintaining surveillance equipment.
Kaliningrad train transit through Lithuania is carried out in accordance with the existing European Union–Russia agreement, which defines the obligations of both parties.