Lithuania’s new defence minister, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, has spearheaded the establishment of Komendantūros (Commandant's Offices), which would operate alongside local municipalities during wartime. What are they and how can citizens get involved?
With the Komendantūros being formally established for the first time, the Lithuanian government has now invited citizens to sign up online. The aim is to attract hunters or anyone trained in firearms, as well as people with prior military experience, medics and anyone willing to help defend their towns and villages with or without a weapon.
“We are turning a new page in society-wide defence,” said Kasčiūnas. Lithuania’s approach is mostly drawn from Ukraine’s experience during Russia’s full-scale invasion, officials previously said.
The 27 Komendantūtoros to be established across the country would work alongside civilian administration, such as city councils and regional municipalities, during an armed conflict.
Assigned military officers, the so-called Komendantai (Commendants), will help guide civil defence efforts, organise territorial defence and coordinate actions between the different branches, including the military volunteers – the National Defence Volunteer Forces (KASP) – medics and firefighters, etc.
Komendantūros will also have armed units directly under their control.
After the Defence Ministry opened registration on May 1, over 1,600 people signed up to become members of the Komendantūros on the first two days. The government hopes that around 10,000 people will eventually join before the first round of admissions closes on August 31.
According to the defence minister, the units will be made up of people who have previously served in the military and are part of the reserve force, which includes around 80,000 people who completed their military service more than a decade ago.
Additionally, komendantiniai (commendants’) members of the Riflemen’s Union, a civilian paramilitary force under the control of the country’s government, will also become part of the new units. The Riflemen Union currently unites over 14,000 people, which includes its youth branch. By the end of the year, over 2,500 members of the organisation should be ready to be assigned to the Komendantūros, according to Kasčiūnas.
The military units subordinate to the Komendantūros will also include civilian volunteers. To be eligible, they can’t be military reservists, members of the volunteer forces (KASP), or part of the Riflemen Union units already assigned to Komendantūros. They also have to be Lithuanian citizens.
The units will be responsible for setting up roadblocks, enforcing curfew, guarding strategic objects, civil defence, and other tasks. People assigned to armed units of Komendantūros will also have to pledge an oath and would be considered deserters if they fled in time of war.
The Lithuanian military, meanwhile, will be tasked with providing each person with an automatic weapon and ammunition, a first-aid kit, an armoured vest and helmet as well as a gas mask.
When signing up online, people can select their preferred field – infantry, support and logistics, military instructors, or other.
“We receive an average of 50 applications per hour,” Arūnas Balčiūnas, director of the Military Conscription and Recruitment Service, said earlier this week.
Ninety percent of those who registered are men, mostly aged between 35 and 55.
“Once registered, each person will be contacted individually and will be told what to do next,” said Deputy Defence Minister Žilvinas Tomkus.
The KASP volunteer force will be responsible for training, with people assigned to Komendantūros expected to dedicate up to ten days per year to drills.
The first units of Komendantūros will begin training in October, according to Deputy Defence Minister Tomkus. Their full readiness should be reached in 2025, the Defence Ministry said.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
