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New US troops are on their way to Lithuania as Nato ally draws up mass evacuation plans over Russian drone threat

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026 · last updated 23 September 2026.

Vladimir Putin aboard a missile cruiser. European spy chiefs have warned Russia could stage a limited NATO border incursion or false-flag provocation within "months, not years", with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk…
Vladimir Putin aboard a missile cruiser. European spy chiefs have warned Russia could stage a limited NATO border incursion or false-flag provocation within "months, not years", with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk…

Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda announced on Tuesday that a new contingent of US troops is already heading to the country, and he personally thanked President Donald Trump for the deployment. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius told the BBC that Lithuania has developed evacuation plans covering multiple scenarios — among them the removal of elderly citizens from cities — in response to persistent Russian drone incursions into Lithuanian airspace.

NATO jets scrambled last week after a drone crossed from Belarus into Lithuania's south, triggering emergency alerts across the country.

Sinkevicius vowed Lithuania 'will fight back' and 'will engage' if attacked, but warned Britain needs its own 'shift in the mindset' on defence.

Lithuania is also building a key electricity substation near the Russian border, fortified against explosive drone strikes.

MoreGB NewsNato ally Lithuania prepares mass evacuation and vows to 'fight back' Russian attackReutersEXCLUSIVE: Lithuania plans key substation near Russia, fortified against explosive dronesYahoo News UKNew group of US troops 'on its way' to Lithuania, says the Lithuanian president
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