Poland and Lithuania map new border crossing routes for emergency evacuations

After completing the annual Vytis Vault 2026 mobilisation drill, Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said Poland and Lithuania will swiftly create cross-border evacuation plans and pinpoint backup crossing points. The exercise, held at the Budzisko border crossing, involved roughly 20 Polish representatives and demonstrated the need for alternative routes. Poland has assigned responsibilities to the governor of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the Border Guard, while Lithuanian Minister Martynas Katelynas stressed that the Suwałki Corridor could handle a million or more people fleeing toward the European Union.

Both sides stressed ongoing cooperation on civil defence and security, noting that the Baltic states would rely on this corridor if a major threat emerged. The joint effort aims to ensure rapid population protection and coordinated response in any future crisis.