Lithuania intends to spend evidence contributions on defence (5.38% of GDP) this year, which will let not only to finance the acquisition of fresh equipment and training for soldiers, but besides to grow the ground infrastructure. In addition to modernizing and expanding already existing training centres on the outskirts of the country, a full fresh training ground will be established at the border with Poland and Belarus.
At the end of last year, Deividas Matulionis, Chief Advisor to the president of Lithuania for Security, presented plans construction of a completely fresh camp close Kapčiamistis (Coptically). The area was proposed due to its strategical location close the Suwałki Pass, which is about 70 km long section between Poland and Lithuania, which separates the territory of Królewiec and Belarus.
The fresh ground is to be located in the confederate part of the Suwałki pass, right next to the Polish border. During the gathering on 16 January in Warsaw Head of the Ministry of Defence of Poland and Lithuania Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz declared the readiness of Polish engineering troops to aid with this investment.
The military listens to the people
Lithuania has military fields located on the outskirts of the country – in Podbrodzi (east), Rudniki (southeast) and Taurogy (west), but straight close the Suwałki gulf it has not had specified infrastructure so far. In mid-January 2026, representatives of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence launched consultations with Kapčiamestis residents on the request to establish a camp in their region.
Within 3 days, 70 meetings were held. Subsequent consultations will be held at least until the end of January. – Individual discussions let us not only to know the expectations of the inhabitants, but besides to supply reliable and detailed information in each case – says Colonel Aurius Daškevičius, the coordinator for consultations in the Ministry of Defence of Lithuania.
According to the current borders set out in the proposal of the State Defence Council, the fresh field in the south of the country will cover an area of 14 600 ha, which contains 1950 parcels, mainly forest and agricultural, but besides 90 inhabited farms. The military area is to be divided into 2 zones. In the western part there will be a stationary infrastructure for combat training and exercises utilizing sharp ammunition and dense weapons. civilian settlements and economical activity in the area will not be permitted due to the safety of the population.
On the another hand, the parcels in the east part will be transferred to the Lithuanian armed forces for usage indefinitely to train soldiers, but with the main intent of the site. This is where military equipment will be stationed, but without permanent infrastructure, and the exercises conducted will not include shooting with sharp ammunition. This will enable residents in this part of the camp to preserve their farms, land and forests. News of planned exercises and closure of certain sites will be communicated to them in advance. At the same time, 3,500–4,000 soldiers will be trained throughout the camp.
A bigger ground close the Russian border
Also in January 2026, representatives of the Lithuanian administration and troops met with residents of the Jurbarkas area (his western border lies just a fewer kilometres from Köniwiec) to discuss the proposed expansion of the camp in Taurogy. “The threats from Russia force Lithuania to rapidly strengthen its defence capabilities, and the improvement of the military training in Taurogy is essential to make the right conditions for training and improvement of the Lithuanian military's national division by 2030,” said Robertas Kaunas, Lithuanian defence minister. “We realize that specified a decision raises questions among local communities. We are glad that the gathering with the residents has been constructive. We listened to the opinion of the community and answered questions that were emerging," he added.
The planned extension of the camp in Taurogy is to cover an area of 2710 ha, which will almost double the military area in the region (up to 6390 ha). The area covered by the planning includes a nature reserve, a buffer region of the reserve and 1 cultural heritage site, but there are no private plots or permanent residents there. Lithuanian armed forces intend to conduct maneuvering and tactical exercises in this area. Military equipment and weapons will only be utilized utilizing shooter simulators (no sharp ammunition is expected in this area).
The surrounding residents are to have access to the expanded area of the camp during the absence of training soldiers (the training agenda will be published in advance). This means that in the forests there you will be able to walk, collect mushrooms, or even organize hunting, but only according to the agenda set by the camp commander. The final decision on the improvement of the camp in the Taurogy Lithuanian parliament will take in the spring of 2026.
Multimillion investments
The construction and expansion of the camps in Lithuania will be accompanied by crucial investments beneficial to the civilian population. Tens of millions of euros will aid defend critical infrastructure there, renovate roads, strengthen civilian defence, support civilian shooting groups, organise civic and defence skills courses in schools, etc.
In addition, in mid-2025, the European Investment Bank informed about the agreement to grant a debt of EUR 540 million to modernise the camp in Rudniki (a fewer kilometres from the border with Belarus). The investment process related to the construction of the shooting ranges for EUR 16.3 million was late completed. In the end, German soldiers from the 45th Armored Brigade are to be trained there, which officially began service in Lithuania in the spring of 2025. By 2027, it is expected to number about 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian workers of the Bundeswehr.
