Lithuania declares state of emergency, as Russia attacks Ukraine

by Staff Writer 24-02-2022 | 5:37 PM

As Russian forces launched a military campaign against Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday (24), Lithuania is introducing a state of emergency, the president said.

"Today, I will sign a decree on introducing the state of emergency, which will be passed by the parliament in an extraordinary session," President Gitanas Nausėda said on Thursday (24).

The state of emergency will be in place from 13:00 on Thursday (24) through March 10. The decree allows a more flexible use of the state reserve and steps up state border protection.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said the state of emergency will not involve significant restrictions on Lithuanian citizens.

"We need to provide conditions for state institutions to react to situations in the area of infrastructure, to use state reserve fund," Šimonytė told reporters on Thursday (24).

President Nausėda said the EU sanctions should cover not just Russia, but also Belarus, where Moscow has deployed some 30,000 troops.