Lithuania’s parliament on Thursday approved the establishment of the Kapčiamiestis military training ground in the Lazdijai district.
The Defence Ministry said notices will be sent to property owners in the area, with compensation offers expected by early next year, with payments to be completed by mid-2027.
Military drills are scheduled to begin in 2028, with shooting ranges to be installed by 2030. The site will accommodate brigade-sized exercises of 3,500 to 4,000 troops, primarily serving Lithuanian forces.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the training ground is critical for national defence and necessary for the national division and the German brigade stationed in Lithuania.
According to the ministry, the site was chosen for its strategic location near the Suwałki Gap, the narrow strip of land between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The site selection has sparked backlash from some local residents and other groups, leading to various protest actions. A rally outside the Seimas is also planned for Thursday afternoon.
The training ground will cover approximately 14,600 hectares, currently encompassing nearly 2,000 private plots, mostly forest land. State land will be transferred to the ministry, lease agreements will be terminated, and land use will be reclassified for national defence purposes.
The plan also includes the acquisition of property for public needs, meaning owners will no longer be able to freely transfer or change the purpose of their property. Compensation will be paid at market value, with additional assessments for non-material losses and the possibility of acquiring alternative property.
Payments for residential buildings are expected to exceed 51,000 euros, while agricultural, forest, or commercial plots will receive over 5,000 euros. Residents will also have the option to transfer property to the state under preferential conditions over a 10-year period.
Compensatory measures are also planned for the relocation of protected assets and habitat restoration.
Protest outside the parliament
Around 100 people gathered outside the parliament on Thursday carrying Lithuanian flags and placards reading “Hands off Lithuania’s forests” and “No to forest destruction”.
One protester, a pensioner named Osvaldas, described the proposed Kapčiamiestis military training area as a crime.
“To destroy that landscape, that beautiful corner of Lithuania – that is a crime,” he said.
Other demonstrators argued that the military site was being developed not for national security, but for business interests.
“This is just business, about money above all. Nothing has been properly discussed. Who are they serving? Not Lithuania,” said Zita, who had travelled from Kaišiadorys to attend the protest.
The demonstration, organised by the movement “For Lithuania’s Forests”, was the second held in Independence Square over the issue. Around 300 people gathered outside the Seimas for a similar protest last week.
In an earlier statement to the media, the organisers said they hoped decisions on the military training area would be taken only after fully assessing the potential impact on nature.
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