Vaidotas Beniušis

Lithuanian journalist | Chief Editor at | Former journalist at @AFP and @BNSLithuania | Views are my own; retweets not endorsements

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

#Lithuania’s President @GitanasNauseda says a massive hack targeting the country’s real estate registry may be linked to hostile foreign actors.

Hackers allegedly accessed 600,000+ property records, including personal ID numbers, through compromised government accounts.

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

Another air alert in #Lithuania over suspected drone incursions today. Two drones entered Lithuanian airspace and later disappeared from military radars. #NATO jets and a military helicopter were deployed in the search.

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

Residents of Vilnius were urged to seek shelter after a suspected drone from Belarus triggered an alert in #Lithuania. Vilnius Airport temporarily suspended flights while NATO jets were scrambled. The alert was later lifted.

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

Lithuanian and Latvian radars tracked the suspected drone, prompting NATO jets to scramble. Fighters were tasked with destroying the UAV, but no hostile drone was visually confirmed. It remains unclear whether the drone crashed or left #Lithuania's airspace. The search is ongoing

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

“We are seeing a rise in temperature in Russia’s rhetoric toward the #Baltic States,” the Lithuanian President’s National Security Advisor @DMatulionis says, warning that Russia is actively spreading lies that Baltic territory is being used for Ukraine’s actions against Russia

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

"#Ukraine is winning this war," #Finland's @alexstubb tells me in an interview, arguing that Europe should consider coordinated talks with Russia - from a position of strength https://t.co/2obdLEXGVW

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

Three drone explosions reported across the Baltic states this week. Officials say they likely entered airspace accidentally, amid intensifying Ukraine–Russia drone warfare driven by Russia’s ongoing aggression

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

Lithuanian court has sentenced a Ukrainian national to three years in prison for setting fire to an Ikea store in Vilnius, convicting him of carrying out a terrorist act orchestrated by Russia’s military intelligence service. Photo credit: @BNSLithuania

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

Russia and China are using "the same playbook" to pressure their neighbours, #Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao @bikhim tells me in an interview.
We also talked about Trump, Ukraine, and #Lithuania’s unique decision to host a Taiwanese office. https://t.co/UfoXsWojGk

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

#Lithuania shuts border with #Belarus for a month over security concerns after balloon incidents

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

#Lithuania to spend 5.38% of GDP on defense in 2026, according to the draft budget just released by the government

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

52 political prisoners have been freed from #Belarus, including 6 Lithuanian citizens. Among them is Elena Ramanauskienė, whom Lithuania recognizes as a political prisoner, jailed in 2024 on spying charges.

Video: Lithuanian Foreign Ministry

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

#Lithuania to reinforce air defenses near the Belarus border after second suspected drone breach this month

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

This morning, residents in Vilnius were warned by police about an unidentified drone that entered from Belarusian airspace. Authorities urge anyone who spots the downed drone to avoid approaching it and immediately call 112.

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

Lithuanian Defence Minister @DSakaliene says the drone that crashed near the border after entering from Belarus was a Russian-made Gerbera model. Its purpose is under investigation; there's no data yet suggesting it was intentionally sent into Lithuanian territory

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

An unmanned aircraft from Belarus entered Lithuanian airspace on Thursday, prompting a brief military alert; PM @g_paluckas and Speaker @Skvernelis_S were taken to shelters. The object resembled a homemade aircraft and posed no threat, according to the Defence Ministry

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

First video from the site where a suspected drone from Belarus entered Lithuanian airspace and crashed near the border

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

@OCCRP @15minlt #Lithuania launches criminal probe into Bankera ICO following 15min, @OCCRP investigation

https://t.co/5XYC1tXKxm

[Vaidotas Beniušis @BeniusisV]

May 9 isn’t a celebration in #Lithuania.
For us, it marked a new wave of Soviet terror — and a long guerrilla war for freedom.
I wrote about it 10 years ago — even more relevant today.
https://t.co/14TGbGlvEM.