Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Since the start of November 2025 until the end of December 2025, LP Express delivered more than 3 million parcels to parcel terminals for Lithuanian residents. This is by a third more than in the same period of 2024.

Lithuania Post CEO Kastytis Valantinas says the peak period was successfully managed by preparing for it in advance: LP Express had installed 70 new parcel terminals and around 10 thousand additional parcel lockers. Logistics and transport capabilities were also enhanced so that parcels would reach clients as smoothly as possible.

According to Lithuania Post, the record number of parcels, more than 1.1 million, was also delivered in Latvia and Estonia through the Unisend network parcel terminals in the discussed period. This was fourfold more than in 2024.

In 2025, Lithuania Post delivered a total of nearly 21 million parcels to parcel terminals in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys on Friday opened the 19th Snow Meeting in Vilnius, stressing that the changing geopolitical situation brings a rapid change to European security.

According to Budrys, European security is no longer static as it is changing fast and only two roles are possible – either you shape it or you are buried under the rubble.

The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy stressed that even though Europe took measures to enhance it security, yet the speed of action does not correspond to the scale of threats.

Budrys welcomed NATO Operations Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry, and the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. He says this is a step in the right direction but this is just the beginning because deterrence does not work in a fragmented way, it only works when it is applied constantly, visibly and clearly.

The minister emphasised that the transatlantic tie is the foundation of security and everything must be done to retain and strengthen the partnership with the USA.

He says Europe has no other choice but to re-establish itself as a strong and reliable actor whose voice is important in the international arena.

The minister calls on Europe to take responsibility and ensure its security, whereas strong Europe would make it an equal transatlantic partner but not an alternative to US presence.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Shopping and leisure centre Panorama, located in Vilnius, has reached an agreement with SEB bank on an additional EUR 20 million loan for the shopping centre’s expansion.

It is planned to build three separate buildings for various purposes next to the shopping centre. Their total area will stand at around 36 thousand square metres.

The new buildings are planned to accommodate education, medical services, offices, apartment rental and other businesses.

Panorama CEO Birutė Kalanovaitė says that the funding enables the company to consistently implement development plans of the shopping centre and the surrounding area. She says the company invests not only in new buildings but also in continuous renovation of the shopping centre and improvement of visitor experience.

The latest agreement brings SEB bank total funding for Panorama projects to EUR 75 million.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – The Prosecutor General’s Office has transferred to court a criminal case into a planned but failed terror attack in Šiauliai that occurred in September 2024. The terror plot was aimed at destroying equipment meant to be transferred from Lithuania to Ukraine’s Armed Forces following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.

The defendants include six foreigners – citizens of Belarus, Colombia, Cuba, Russia and Spain.

Prosecutors transferred the case to Šiauliai Regional Court on 14 January.

The defendants are accused of participating in an organised terrorist group, as well as of an attempted terror attack and funding of terrorist activities.

The suspects intended to target infrastructure and goods made by  TVC Solutions, a company based in Šiauliai. Namely, mobile radio frequency monitoring stations which were valued EUR 1.5 million and were to be sent to Ukraine.

The overall property that was planned to be destroyed was valued over EUR 4 million, said Artūras Urbelis, chief prosecutor of the Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation was coordinated by the Prosecutor General’s Office and conducted by the Criminal Police Bureau, in cooperation with the Second Investigation Department under the Ministry of National Defence, the State Security Department, Eurojust, Europol and foreign law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

The investigation was launched after an attempted arson of mobile radio frequency monitoring stations stored in the territory of TVC Solutions on 17 September 2024.

Officers from the Criminal Police Bureau noted that media outlets linked to Russian intelligence and Kremlin’s propaganda published information about “a large fire” and “destruction of all equipment” on social platform Telegram on 14 September, several days before the incident happened. Messages were published on Telegram claiming that pro-Russian partisans from Ukraine or local antifascists could have caused the fire.

This therefore indicated that the terror plot might have been orchestrated by Russian intelligence services.

The investigation found that a citizen of Spain and a dual citizen of Spain and Colombia might have been responsible for the arson attempt. The two had brought items for arson to the crime scene but did not complete the planned crime as they were spooked by passers-by who appeared nearby.

Afterwards, they immediately travelled to Riga, where they were apprehended as a result of expeditious cooperation of Lithuanian and Latvian intelligence and law enforcement officers. The two suspects where then extradited to Lithuania.

Continuing the pre-trial investigation, it was discovered that a second attempt of a terror attack at the same place was made on 22 September 2024.

A Russian citizen and a Belarusian citizen travelled from Spain to Šiauliai to commit the attack.

After making sure that arson succeeded, the two individuals fled from the scene. However, it later transpired that no damage was done as the items used for arson did not ignite the company’s products stored outside. 

Investigators identified a Cuban woman who arrived from Russia to Šiauliai one day after the second attempted arson.

It is suspected that she had to assess the damage caused by the fire. Having fulfilled her orders, the woman intended to leave Lithuania but was detained by Lithuanian police officers.

Investigators also identified a citizen Colombia residing in Spain, who was suspected of performing the functions of mediation and securing financing for the organised terrorist group.

The man was detained in Spain and, after processing, extradited to Lithuania in May 2025.

All 6 suspects are currently under arrest in Lithuania.

Four other suspects are still under investigation. One of them was detained in Colombia and his extradition process has started.

International search was declared for three other suspects.

Law enforcement says that members of the terrorist group carefully planned for the crime and had travelled to Lithuania several weeks before the first arson attempt. They inspected the area surrounding the company and existing security measures, as well potential paths for retreat.

In cooperation with foreign law enforcement and intelligence institutions, and after evaluating the information received about similar terror attacks allegedly committed by members of the terrorist group in the Czech Republic, Romania and Poland, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) coordinated by Eurojust was established, which included law enforcement officers from the aforementioned countries. Europol also actively cooperated in the investigation of these crimes.

The investigation discovered that the group’s crimes might have been coordinated by Cuban and Colombian citizens living in the Russian Federation. These individuals are linked to the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). It is suspected that sabotage in Šiauliai was carried out on the orders of the GRU.

The maximum punishment in Lithuania for participation in the activities of an organised terrorist group is imprisonment of up to 15 years.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Two companies managed by AB Tewox have received construction permits to develop two new grocery stores in Lithuania, the company said Friday.

The projects, located in Vilnius and the town of Pabradė, have both secured long-term lease agreements with supermarket chain Iki.

In Vilnius, a store with a gross leasable area of about 2,100 square metres will be built with a projected investment of around 6 million euros. The store is scheduled to open in the second half of 2026.

In Pabradė, a grocery store of a similar size – around 2,100 square metres of gross leasable area – is planned, with total investment estimated at about 5 million euros. The opening is also expected in the second half of 2026.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Friday that the head of LRT should quit after the public broadcaster station barred a controversial opposition leader from live broadcasts before later reversing the decision.

After LRT said it would no longer invite MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn coalition party, to live programmes, a move it later called a mistake, Ruginienė said the incident warranted the resignation of LRT director general Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė.

“Now it is a done deal,” Ruginienė told ELTA news agency in an interview when asked whether the LRT chief should step down.

While welcoming the acknowledgement of error, the prime minister said it was insufficient given the sensitivity of the issue.

“This is about freedom of speech,” she said, referring to public protests that drew over 10,000 in defence of that principle. “Yesterday’s events showed that people were simply spat in the face.”

Ruginienė said the issue went beyond any individual politician.

“We are not talking about a surname,” she said. “This decision is in no way compatible with freedom of speech.”

She also questioned whether the incident was isolated, warning that publicly issuing such instructions raised broader concerns about editorial independence.

The public broadcaster LRT said on Thursday it had decided not to invite Nemunas Dawn leader Žemaitaitis to live broadcasts, citing a ruling by the Seimas’ ethics watchdog and a court conviction for inciting hatred and trivialising the Holocaust.

LRT said the decision reflected the need for responsibility and respect in live programming, but later reversed the move after criticism from public figures and journalists, admitting the decision had been taken hastily and was a mistake.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys met with Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu on the margins of the Snow Meeting in Vilnius on Friday. 

The ministers discussed strengthening bilateral ties, cooperation in the EU and NATO formats, preparation for the Alliance’s summit in Ankara, issues related to sanctions, support for Ukraine, the EU integration processes of Ukraine and Moldova, the ministry said in a press release.

“Lithuania has close bilateral ties with Romania and successful cooperation with the EU and NATO. We are the frontline states in the neighbourhood where the war is taking place. We are dealing with hybrid attacks. We are experiencing external attempts to influence democratic processes. Therefore, concerted efforts to strengthen security and defence, and to increase the resilience of our countries against hybrid threats, are in our common interest,” said Budrys.

One of the main topics of the meeting was transatlantic security. The Lithuanian minister stressed that the continued presence of the US and other allied forces in the region is a key deterrence factor and a clear signal of NATO unity. 

However, according to Budrys, consistent military capacity-building and the allocation of the necessary financial resources are commitments made by all European countries in The Hague, and the summit in Ankara must be a turning point in implementing the goal of spending 5% of GDP on defence.

The meeting also discussed the need to ensure the continuity of the NATO Eastern Sentry mission and to strengthen the vigilance activities of the Baltic Sentry operation. It was stressed that the recent breach of an undersea cable linking Lithuania and Latvia once again revealed the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.

The Lithuanian and Romanian foreign ministers also discussed support for Ukraine, ensuring continuity of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and the EU integration processes of Ukraine and Moldova. 

According to Budrys, Lithuania has a consistent position that the negotiations on Ukraine’s and Moldova’s membership should start simultaneously. Ukraine’s EU membership is one of the most important non-military security guarantees for the country; therefore, it is necessary to aim for Ukraine to become a member of the EU by 2030, the minister stated.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Lithuania recorded exceptionally high natural gas consumption this week, with 118.4 gigawatt hours (GWh) used on Monday alone, the country’s gas system operator Amber Grid said Friday.

The company attributed the surge to higher demand for electricity generation and wintry weather, which drives energy use.

“It is clear that natural gas is an essential resource for the stability of the country’s energy system,” Amber Grid CEO Nemunas Biknius said. “This is especially true in weather conditions when other technologies cannot produce enough electricity and temperatures drop well below zero. Natural gas allows us to boost electricity production and prevent prices from skyrocketing on the market.”

On Monday, most of the gas – 108 GWh – was delivered through the Klaipėda liquefied natural gas terminal, with the remainder supplied via the Kiemėnai entry point from Latvia’s Inčukalns storage facility.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Ignitis Group has been certified as a Top Employer 2026 for the fifth year in a row by the Top Employers Institute, reaffirming the Group’s long-term commitment to high standards in people management and employee experience, the group said in a press release.

The Top Employer certification is granted following a comprehensive, independent assessment of organisational practices. The 2026 audit evaluated a broad range of areas, including business strategy, leadership, employee experience, digital HR solutions, wellbeing, and inclusion. Results are benchmarked both at European and global levels.

This year’s assessment confirms that Ignitis Group continues to perform above the overall benchmark across all evaluated areas. Compared to the previous year, the Group’s overall score increased, with the most notable progress recorded in organisational change management and employee experience management, reflecting a more integrated approach to the employee lifecycle.

The certification process also provides valuable insights into future development opportunities. Areas identified for further strengthening include leadership development effectiveness measurement and the continued evolution of the digital HR ecosystem. These insights serve as an important input when shaping priorities for the coming years.

For Ignitis Group, the Top Employer certification is more than a recognition. It is a structured reference point that supports evidence-based decision-making and helps consistently develop a strong, responsible employer experience across all Group companies.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys held a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the Snow Meeting in Vilnius on Friday. The two ministers discussed key issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation, geopolitical situation in the Baltic Sea and Middle East regions, combat and response measures to hybrid threats, the ministry said in a press release.

The minister thanked Türkiye for its contribution to the security of Lithuania and the Baltic region, its participation in the Baltic Air Policing mission and the deployment of the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft.

“Türkiye is an important NATO ally, playing a significant role in strengthening regional security and providing assistance to Ukraine. Unity and joint coordinated efforts are essential today to ensure a sustainable and just peace in Europe and hold the aggressors accountable,” Budrys said.

Speaking about the security situation in the region and Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy stressed the need to maintain strong and consistent support for Ukraine, to prevent attempts to circumvent sanctions and to ensure a sustainable and just peace.

According to the minister, Lithuania supports constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue between the European Union and Türkiye, especially in the areas of security, economy, trade, transport and energy, which brings beneficial results to both sides.

The meeting also discussed new opportunities for bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Türkiye in the field of defence industry, joint initiatives in implementing projects in Ukraine, as well as bilateral self-government projects in the fields of green transformation and energy efficiency.

The quadripartite meeting of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Türkiye in the format of foreign ministers also took place on the sidelines of the Snow Meeting in Vilnius. Latvia was represented by the Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Artjoms Uršuļskis. The meeting addressed strengthening NATO’s partnership and transatlantic dialogue, cooperation in mobilising support for Ukraine, and prospects for Türkiye’s EU membership.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Dairy company Vilkyškių Pieninė AB said Friday it has completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Marijampolės Pieno Konservai UAB. The transaction follows approval by the Competition Council on 13 November 2025 and the fulfillment of all conditions set out in the share purchase agreement

100% of the company’s shares were acquired, the transaction value is EUR 7.5 million, VILVI Group said in a press release.

After the acquisition, VILVI Group became one of the largest milk processing groups in the Baltics. Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB operates two factories: Marijampolė factory, which produces canned milk and butter, and the Kalvarija factory, which produces various types of milk powder. This transaction will allow the group to expand its product portfolio.

The main directions of Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB will remain the same – the company will continue to produce canned milk and milk powder. It will be systematically integrated into the structure of VILVI Group in order to effectively utilise the group’s economies of scale and operational synergies. It is also planned to fully utilise the largest butter production line in the Baltics.

In recent years, Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB has generated revenues of approximately EUR 65 million, and the planned revenues are more than EUR 100 million per year.

As of 16 January 2026, VILVI Group consists of: Vilkyškių pieninė AB, Modest AB, Kelmės pieninė AB, Kelmės pienas UAB, Pieno logistika AB, Baltic Dairy Board SIA, and Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB. The companies of VILVI Group have approximately 1,400 employees.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys met with Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen in Vilnius on Friday to discuss bilateral ties, regional Nordic-Baltic cooperation and relevant security policy, the ministry said in a statement.

Lithuania and Finland are like-minded countries, cooperating closely as trusted EU partners and NATO allies. According to Budrys, the two countries share a strong common approach to strengthening regional security and defence.

“Our joint action to strengthen the eastern borders of the European Union and NATO is very important. We must work together to ensure that NATO’s defence capabilities are consistently enhanced and that allies invest more in defence. We must also strongly and credibly support Ukraine, which is our immediate priority,” said Minister Budrys.

He highlighted the particularly effective cooperation between Lithuania and Finland in the Nordic-Baltic format, stressing that this unique regional model provides added value to the entire region by increasing resilience, strengthening coordination, and allowing for a faster response to security challenges. Budrys also expressed his expectation that such cooperation will continue to consistently strengthen and expand in many areas.

“The security of the Baltic States is inseparable from the security of Finland and the Nordic region as a whole, so a strong Baltic-Nordic partnership is the basis for regional security,” the minister said.

Budrys also emphasised the successful development of cooperation between Lithuania and Finland in the field of the defence industry. Lithuania is the fifth largest importer of Finnish defence industry production, with EUR 16.2 million worth of imports in 2024. The minister expressed his interest in further expanding this strategic cooperation.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – Lithuania and Poland have agreed to cooperate on establishing a brigade-sized training area in southern Lithuania, a move aimed at strengthening the defence of the strategically critical Suwalki Gap, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said on Friday.

The Suwalki Gap is a narrow stretch of land connecting the Baltic states to the rest of NATO, bordered by Belarus to the east and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave to the west.

Speaking after talks with Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Warsaw, Kaunas said the planned training area in Lazdijai district, near the Polish and Belarusian borders, would expand opportunities for joint training.

“I am very pleased that we agreed to cooperate in establishing the Kapčiamiestis training area in Lithuania,” Kaunas told a press conference. “This will allow our soldiers to train together and increase the defensibility of the Suwalki Gap.”

He said the need for the training area was “beyond question” and described the defence of the Suwalki Gap as a shared regional objective.

Kaunas added that the facility would serve not only Lithuania and Poland but the wider NATO alliance.

“Unlike the Gozha training area in Belarus, this training area in Lithuania will be transparent, democratically established and will serve the defence needs of both our countries and the entire Alliance,” he said.

The planned Kapčiamiestis military training area would be divided into two zones, with separate areas for manoeuvres and live-fire exercises, the ministry said. Civilian activity will be restricted in the core training area, while residential farms and businesses will be allowed to remain in the zone used for manoeuvres.

Around two-thirds of the territory will be used for tactical movement, manoeuvring and administrative facilities, affecting 77 farmsteads whose owners may choose to stay or relocate, with the state buying out land if they opt to leave. 

A separate live-fire zone near the Polish border, currently home to 13 farmsteads, will require the purchase of all private property and businesses there, with compensation based on independent valuations, according to the ministry.

Vilnius, January 16 (ELTA) – With Washington sharpening its focus on Greenland and European allies planning military exercises on the Arctic island, Lithuania should also consider taking part, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has said.

Lithuania’s security focus has always extended across NATO as a whole, not only its eastern borders or the Baltic Sea, Budrys told LRT Radio on Friday.

“We should definitely consider it. There will be exercises, followed by further exercises 0 we are talking about a cycle,” he said. “Lithuania’s focus in discussions with its allies has never been solely on our border, the Suwalki Gap or the Baltic Sea.”

Security in eastern Europe is a shared responsibility of the entire alliance, he said, adding that Lithuania likewise has obligations toward other NATO members.

“Lithuania must participate in the NATO space in one capacity or another. We have our own contribution to offer,” Budrys said. “This should be on the agenda if there is a need – of course, in consultation with our allies and with a clear view of how this can be done effectively.”

The minister stressed that discussions concerned routine military exercises, which he said would continue to be coordinated through established NATO mechanisms.

Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands have announced they will deploy military personnel to Greenland to begin preparations for larger exercises later this year.

Earlier in January, US President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded that the United States has no right to annex any part of Denmark and urged Washington to stop threatening a long-standing ally.