On October 18 the State Defence Council decided on a new training area for the Lithuanian Armed Forces – a former military training area of Rūdininkai in Šalčininkai region will be restored to use. The decision was taken after an evaluation of candidate areas proposed by the Ministry of National Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces for the training of Lithuanian and allied troops. The necessity to establish another training area was dictated by the complex geopolitical situation and threats in our region, as well as the intense development at the Lithuanian Armed Forces, NATO forces deployed in Lithuania and the numbers of allied troops rotating in for training and exercises.
“The military training areas available at the moment are used for training both, Lithuanian and other NATO allies’ troops in Lithuania who are integrated into the Lithuanian defence system, as a result, the areas are overcrowded and fall short on offering sufficient conditions for our and allied troops training side by side here in Lithuania. Providing conditions is one of the strategic security decisions and commitments. Finding a suitable place for the training area that meet the standards is a state-level priority,” Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas says.
The intense modernization and development of the Lithuanian Armed Forces that is seen in the recent years, establishment of new military units, acquisition and naturalization of new weaponry, have stretched the military training capacity in the existing areas to its limits, and highlighted the need for more territory fitted for military exercises.
An analysis showed that the former Rūdninkai training area meets the target requirements for the intended military activities best: it would not be developing a military training area from zero but restoration to use, the size of the area is right and the location is convenient, the edges of the training area reach national roads, and there is an opportunity to build a railway line. Another particularly important feature is that the area is free of villages or private property and the woodland and land in the area are public property. That makes the military training area development process significantly easier.
In the assessment of agreement with requirements and limitations process, the Lithuanian Armed Forces also conducted analyses of areas in Alytus, Lazdijai and Varėna regions. They were deemed to fall short of the requirements for a military training area: not suitable for military activities, too many inhabitants and farmsteads, cultural heritage sites or recreation areas.
“It is very important not only to create training conditions for military personnel, as we reconstruct the untended military training area in Šalčininkai region, but also to invest national defence budget funds properly so that it would boost economic and social development of the region,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
The project would present a demand of a range of services (constructions, catering, temporary accommodation, security, etc.), set off social, educational, cultural environmental protection projects, creation of jobs, reconstruction and maintenance of roads, building of new railway links, and development of infrastructure projects.
The former Rūdninkai Training Area was established back in the Soviet times, later handed over to municipal authorities. If its reconstruction is approved, preparatory work will begin, such as detailed technical, financial, economic, social and environmental evaluation, then negotiations with local authorities, communities, organisations and businesses would follow. The Seimas would also need to confer the status of a critical national importance on the project and then finally approve it by the end of 2024.
The biggest challenge awaiting in that case would be to ensure minimal effects on the environment as the area includes nature reserves. Training area development documents would approve the least impactful solutions and recompense for possible damage to the environment. There are plans in place for the protection of each nature reserve, most of the reserves in the area will not intersect with military activities and will remain intact. A few nature reserves will be discussed with the Ministry of the Environment in order to protect all the valuables of nature. Efforts will be made to involve the academic staff in it.
The reconstruction of the former Rūdninkai training area would be co-conducted by the Ministry of National Defence, the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the Ministries of the Interior, Agriculture, Social Security and Labour, Economy and Innovation, and Transport and Communications, as well as other municipal institutions.
