Lithuania is starting the Thunder Strike military training exercises on Tuesday, which involves around 17,000 Lithuanian and allied troops ahead of the Zapad military drills planned by Russia and Belarus later this month.
According to the Armed Forces, the Thunder Strike exercises will combine many smaller-scale drills scheduled in Lithuania.
The two-month training exercises will take place at military training areas and in civilian environments. Military convoys will travel on the country’s roads, military aircraft will fly overhead. The exercises will involve simulations and sound equipment.
“Our goal is to focus military training on ensuring that all units achieve and maintain readiness to carry out the tasks of the country’s armed defence plan,” Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaikšnoras is quoted in a press release by the Armed Forces.
The exercises are directly related to real defence plans and training for their implementation, according to the military. The Armed Forces Command, the headquarters of the Armed Forces’ units and institutions, military units and troops, as well as military commanders and local government institutions will train in planning and performing armed defence tasks.
The military training exercises, scheduled for September and October, will include four smaller-scale exercises, as well as annual Lithuanian Army exercises, such as Engineer Thunder 2025, Iron Wolf 2025 II, and Strong Griffin 2025.
The exercises will cover the period during which Russia and Belarus will prepare for, conduct, and conclude the Zapad drills, which, according to Lithuanian intelligence estimates, will involve up to 30,000 troops.
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