The Rūdninkai military training area in Lithuania’s south-eastern district of Šalčininkai was formally opened on Thursday with the symbolic unveiling of its sign.
The training area, which existed in the Soviet times, is being redeveloped to provide suitable conditions for training and maintaining the high combat readiness of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and NATO allies, Defence Ministry said in a press release.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas noted that the opening was symbolic, as the training area still needs to be marked, and its infrastructure will be developed in stages.
However, the area already has a firing range and manoeuvring capabilities, so it will be available for use before all the installation works are completed, he added.
“Once the area is marked, it will be available for use,” the minister said on Thursday.
The Rūdninkai military training ground covers almost 17,000 hectares, and a large part of it is located in a forested area away from populated areas, which will make it suitable for tactical and firing exercises for battalion-sized units, according to the Defence Ministry.
The project involves putting in place infrastructure to accommodate 3,000 troops, sites for military equipment, a canteen, a sports and leisure complex, and ammunition and explosives depots.
Some 260 million euros will be needed to fully set up the training area and road infrastructure. NATO allies are also willing to invest in developing the Rūdninkai military training area, according to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
“I am glad to say that our allies are already aware of the launch of the training area, and some have even expressed their willingness to contribute to the investment and strengthening of its infrastructure. This is extremely important,” he told a press conference in Rūdninkai.
The training area can now host smaller-scale exercises, with larger drills planned for the end of next year.
The Rūdninkai military training area has been lately used by the Public Security Service for training. The parliament has granted it the status of special national importance.
Lithuania’s largest training areas in Pabradė, close to Vilnius, and Gaižiūnai, in the central district of Jonava, are becoming insufficient to meet the needs of its strengthening armed forces and the increasing number of NATO troops training in the country.
“The mood is really great because we are witnessing the launch of important military infrastructure projects, which is a prelude to our better preparedness, greater resilience, and, most importantly, to Lithuania’s attractiveness to foreign allies,” Nausėda said at the opening of the training area in Rūdninkai.
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