Lithuania hosting Strong Shield exercise, involving over 1,000 military personnel from three countries
The Strong Shield (Tvirtas Skydas) military drills, involving more than 1,000 Lithuanian, Latvian and Portuguese soldiers, are currently taking place in Lithuania, TASS reports
As noted by the Lithuanian Armed Forces Command, the purpose of the training – attended by more than a thousand military personnel – is to work out the planning of defensive operations, their preparation and implementation with the co-ordination of the actions of units responsible for certain territorial zones.
According to the command, some episodes of the manoeuvres will take place in the civilian areas of the Anyksciai, Zarasai, Kupiskis, and Rokiskis districts. It is reported that military equipment will move along the designated routes during the day and night, and simulated ammunition and smoke bombs will be used during the drills.
On the Lithuanian side, in addition to units of the regular army, representatives of the volunteer regional security forces integrated into the system of the Defence Ministry’s voluntary security forces will take part in the exercise that will end on May 18th.
