By Benas Gerdžiūnas, LRT.lt.
People in Lithuania have noticed construction work taking place almost simultaneously on bridges close to the Belarusian border. The Lithuanian Armed Forces confirmed to LRT.lt that this is part of fortification measures agreed last July.
The military told LRT that the work is part of preparations for the Baltic defence line along the borders with Russia and Belarus. Under the plan, bridges are being fitted with “engineering structures for attaching explosive materials”.
“Bridges and roads are selected based on the location of natural obstacles and their strategic importance in Lithuania’s defence system,” the military told LRT.lt.
The armed forces said it had already established several dozen sites near the border to store anti-tank and other obstacles, while work is under way to plant trees for protection on key roads, as well as deepen irrigation ditches that would act as trenches and additional anti-tank barriers.
Countering “war hysteria”
In the event of an armed conflict, the bridges close to the border would be demolished more easily, helping block the movement of military forces. Finland, which shares a 1,340 km border with Russia, has been preparing for this for decades.
Read more: LRT.LT
