LRT English Newsletter – November 29, 2024.
This past week will go down in history. And not in a good way. In the early hours of Monday, a cargo plane crashed near Vilnius Airport in what experts call the largest aviation catastrophe in independent Lithuania. One person – a pilot from Spain – was killed, and three other crew members, including a Lithuanian national, were injured.
The plane crashed in the yard of a residential house, missing the building only by chance and miraculously leaving its 13 residents uninjured. The incident sparked the discussion of whether Vilnius Airport, located so close to the city centre, poses risks to residents (spoiler: not really). But even more so, the question is what caused the plane to crash?
Despite authorities warning against any premeditated speculations, one couldn’t help but wonder whether Russia had something to do with it. Earlier this year, two self-igniting parcels were shipped from Lithuania, causing fires in the DHL logistic centres in Germany’s Leipzig, as well as the UK. The incidents were later attributed to Russia’s covert operation. This time, too, the plane carried DHL parcels, and it flew from the same German city. But despite the eyebrow-raising coincidences, DHL said it had no information about any suspicious packages onboard the plane, while pilots did not report fire or other signs of alarm before the crash.
The plane’s black boxes were found undamaged the next day and they will now go to Germany for analysis and answers. It may be a year before we know a definite cause of the crash, the authorities said, while German and Spanish officials will contribute to the investigation. For now, neither sabotage nor a human error or a technical issue have been ruled out.
HYBRID INCIDENTS
When assessing the DHL cargo plane crash in Lithuania, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said it could have been “an accident or another hybrid incident”. By “another” she meant in addition to the two damaged telecoms cables in the Baltic Sea just a week earlier. Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden have now set up a joint investigation group to look into the incident. Meanwhile, Russia has been accused of organising the “hybrid attack”, most likely by hiring a Chinese ship to damage the cables.
Following the cable incident and previous damages to critical infrastructure, Poland has proposed setting up a Baltic Sea policing mission. Lithuanian politicians have eagerly welcomed the idea.
UNWANTED MIGRANTS
Lithuanians’ attitudes toward immigrants are growing more negative, while Ukrainians remain the most favoured group, a new survey has shown. People tend to view migrants more favourably when they integrate well into the society. However, learning Lithuanian is becoming increasingly more complicated for foreigners as the language instructors are in short supply.
Even running a business may not be reason enough for foreigners to be welcome in Lithuania. A story of two Vietnamese women, who have owned a café in Šiauliai for six years and are now facing deportation, has gone viral this week. The Migration Department has asked the women to leave the country in 14 days because they do not employ any Lithuanians. The Vietnamese say they have not been given any warning nor the opportunity to correct their mistake and hope their appeal will be upheld.
KEEPING UP THE SPIRITS
Amid the barrage of bad news, the smell of the upcoming Christmas is what’s keeping our spirits up. On Saturday, Kaunas became the first Lithuanian city to light up its gingerbread-decorated Christmas tree. Unlike in previous years, the city’s main tree is installed in Unity Square due to the reconstruction of the Town Hall Square. Meanwhile, Vilnius, which was named the European Christmas Capital 2025, is unveiling its main Christmas tree today.
EDITOR’S PICKS
– There will be no pledge to pass a civil partnership bill in the new Lithuanian government’s program.
– Lithuania will need five small nuclear reactors to have a reliable electricity supply, according to the energy minister.
– The warning lights are blinking in Russia’s war economy.
– An unusual collection of scissors has given rise to an entire museum that welcomes visitors in the countryside of western Lithuania.
– And here’s why people in Lithuania keep eating endangered mushrooms.
Written by Ieva Žvinakytė
Edited by Justinas Šuliokas
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