Lithuanian volunteers enlist in paramilitary force at record rates as Russia threat looms
Apr 6, 2025 #Lithuania #Russia #LithuaniaParamilitaryGroup
Lithuania’s Riflemen’s Union, a civilian paramilitary group, is seeing record gr
Apr 6, 2025 #Lithuania #Russia #LithuaniaParamilitaryGroup
Lithuania’s Riflemen’s Union, a civilian paramilitary group, is seeing record growth amid fears of Russian aggression.
Membership surged after the invasion of Ukraine, with over 16,000 members and hundreds joining monthly.
Volunteers train for crisis response and defence, many driven by family histories of Soviet oppression.
The government backs the mobilisation, urging national resilience in key sectors beyond military upgrades.
Strategic concerns include the Klaipeda port near Kaliningrad, increasing the region’s vulnerability.
The Union reflects Lithuania’s broader defence strategy focused on civilian preparedness.
For recruits, joining is both personal and patriotic—a bid to prevent history from repeating.
Al Jazeera’s Alex Gatopoulos reports from the Baltic coastal town of Klaipeda.
0 
