Lithuania prepares to evacuate thousands if Ukraine war spills over

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:01This is a drill.

00:03Hundreds of volunteers have taken part in a large-scale evacuation in Lithuania's capital.

00:09Vilnius sits near the border of Russia's close ally Belarus.

00:13The city's mayor says plans ultimately include moving the entire city.

00:19It would not be a situation that would arise in one day.

00:23Perhaps locally.

00:24There would be a need to evacuate some part of the city or a neighborhood or several lines.

00:29But apparently, based on experience, our capacities must be oriented towards relocating the entire population of Vilnius, 600,000 people.

00:39Lithuania, a NATO member, unveiled its evacuation plan earlier this year,

00:45which assigns specific neighborhoods to evacuation points and identifies 150 routes out of Vilnius.

00:52The passengers, please remain calm. There is no danger to your life.

00:57This train is traveling roughly 100 kilometers away.

01:01Volunteers say they signed up to be prepared.

01:05What we're talking about each month, each week, at work, everywhere, just to be prepared and then we'll see.

01:13Of course, I don't want to leave my home. I want to leave my city. No, I don't want to leave that.

01:19But if this becomes threatening to your life, so I will evacuate.

01:29They arrived in Konos, where multiple facilities, including buses, sports arenas and bomb shelters,

01:36were set up with camp beds to host them overnight.

01:39Russia has said it has no plans to attack NATO countries,

01:43but recent drone incursions have heightened fears, especially along Europe's eastern flank.

01:49Russian flank

01:51fleet or green flank

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended