Lithuania and Poland are drawing up evacuation plans for a potential all-out war with Russia, focusing on a strategically vulnerable section of Nato’s eastern flank.
The two countries are working on procedures, logistics and infrastructure plans, including civilian evacuation routes running through the Suwalki Gap.
Often described as Nato’s “Achilles heel”, the Suwalki Gap is a roughly 60-mile corridor connecting Poland and Lithuania. Military planners fear Russian President Vladimir Putin could target the area in a future conflict.
The narrow stretch of land lies between Belarus, a close Russian ally, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
A Russian advance from Belarus through the gap toward Kaliningrad could cut Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania off from Nato allies in central and western Europe.
Vilnius and Warsaw are negotiating a bilateral agreement that would establish the framework for their joint preparations, according to Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre.
The announcement came as Lithuania began nationwide emergency exercises, including simulated evacuations along its border with Poland.
The planning comes amid growing concern that Moscow is testing Nato’s resolve through a campaign of covert operations targeting countries on its borders.
A man watches his home burn after it was hit by falling debris following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on September 27, 2026
Lithuania and Poland are preparing evacuation plans for a potential full-scale conflict with Russia
Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre, said procedures, logistics and infrastructure capacity were being assessed jointly with Polish officials. He added that the plan would be developed once the two countries reached an agreement.
The arrangements will also cover the possible evacuation of civilians from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, he said.
Authorities are also considering border controls in the event of a threat, both to support mobilisation and to “prevent people in certain key roles from leaving the country”.
Around 20 Polish officials have travelled to Lithuania to take part in exercises testing border procedures. The drills involve approximately 3,000 officials and 1,000 volunteers and are scheduled to continue until October 2.
MUST READ: Adventurer Reveals Outcome of His Life Savings Gamble on a California Ghost Town
Earlier this month, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said intelligence assessments pointed to Russian “plans for hybrid strikes using drones and missiles against countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland”.
He warned that the alleged “provocations” were “far more dangerous than those we have faced so far”.
Russia is suspected of involvement in covert attacks against several locations in Nato countries, including a warehouse in Britain, an arms factory in Estonia and an airport in Germany.
On September 18, airports in Rzeszów and Lublin suspended operations after Russia launched an attack on western Ukraine just miles from Nato territory.
The incident was the latest in a series of strikes reported near Poland’s border in recent months.
Western intelligence officials told The Telegraph that Putin was preparing a “stealth mobilisation” following the State Duma elections, potentially allowing thousands of Russians to be drafted.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Moscow may eventually have to change its recruitment methods and introduce some form of involuntary reserve call-up if it continues suffering casualties at the current rate.
The Russian leader is said to have been backed into a corner, with the military having suffered 1.5 million casualties, including 500,000 fatalities in Ukraine, and his invasion effectively at a stalemate.
Meanwhile, European leaders have warned that the Kremlin’s hybrid war against the West is likely to intensify ‘in months, not years’.
Last Thursday, four Russian drones breached Moldova’s airspace.
Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova, wrote on X: ‘Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine reached Moldova again this morning. Four Russian drones violated our airspace, and at least one exploded in the north. Russia’s war endangers all of Europe.’
Earlier this week, the CIA warned of a Russian operation using seaborne drones against targets in Spain, France or Italy.
The attacks would see Russia fire 600 km-range drones from commercial ships, hitting ports, airports and other infrastructure, according to El Mundo, the Spanish newspaper.
