Lithuania to Dig 20m Ditches on Russia-Belarus Border
Lithuania will dig 20-meter trenches along its border with Russia and Belarus. Trenches will be excavated in Lithuania along the border with the Kaliningrad region of Russia and Belarus.
Consensus
- Lithuania has approved the construction of ditches along its borders with Russia and Belarus.
- The ditches will be 20 meters wide on average, with some sections reaching 150 meters in width.
- The project is part of a military counter-mobility program initiated by the Ministry of Defense.
- The construction is expected to be completed by 2028.
- Lithuania plans to restore wetlands along the border to hinder heavy military vehicle movement.
- The government will expand the number of military engineering storage facilities (parcels of counter-mobility) from 27 to 50.
- The project will cost approximately €50 million over the period 2026–2030.
- The initiative was approved by the Lithuanian government on August 12.
- The government has emphasized that public statements about threats should be carefully evaluated to avoid panic.
Points of divergence
- Lithuania is considering introducing crocodiles or piranhas into the ditches for added deterrence, though this is presented as a satirical suggestion. — gazeta_spb
- The project may be more psychological and propaganda-driven than militarily effective, likening it to medieval castle defenses. — gazeta_spb
- The idea of using ditches may be a response to previous hypothetical suggestions by Russian media about planting giant hogweed or building landfills near Finland’s border. — gazeta_spb
- The German Bundeswehr has deployed a specialized electronic warfare unit near the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, calling the area a 'battlefield of glass'. — vm
- Lithuanian Prime Minister Minodas Šinkievicius denied claims by the Minister of Defense about increased threat from Russia. — vm
- The deadline for the project has been extended to December 31, 2028. — vedomosti
Coverage (9 sources)
- Ditch with crocodiles on the border with Russia: Is Lithuania going down the path of medieval castles? - SPB Newspaper - St. Petersburg news — Gazeta.SPb
- Trenches for €50 million will be dug in Lithuania at the border with Russia and Belarus. As told in the country's cabinet, in some places the trench will be 150 m wide. — ТАСС (Telegram)
- In Lithuania, ditches will be dug along the borders with Russia and Belarus — DW Главное
- Lithuania will build obstacle strips and restore swamps on the border with Russia and Belarus — Фонтанка
- Lithuania will dig 20-meter trenches on the border with Russia and Belarus — The Moscow Times
- Lithuania will spend 50 million euros on ditches at the border with Russia and Belarus — Вечерняя Москва
- Lithuania will dig trenches up to 150 meters long on the border with Russia and Belarus — Коммерсантъ
- Lithuania will dig trenches on the border with Russia and Belarus — Ведомости
- Trenches for €50 million will be dug in Lithuania at the border with Russia and Belarus. — ТАСС (Telegram)