A first cross-border evacuation drill between Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia quarantining “ru” domain email, a solo paddle down the Baltic Way, Estonia’s potential presidential pick who hasn’t said yes, Swedish inmates heading for Tartu and a single borderland seat holding Lithuania’s attention—these are the developments set to shape Baltic headlines in August.
August / 2026 Baltics Next Month Newsletter
Baltic Cross-border Evacuation Test
On the 4th of August, Latvia and Lithuania will rehearse a mass evacuation of civilians from Latvia’s Daugavpils to Lithuania. In 2025, the three Baltic states agreed to make evacuation plans together, and this is the first practical test. The simulation is organised as part of the Interreg cross-border project MassMovement: From Strategy to Safety. The State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia and the Fire and Rescue Department of Lithuania invited volunteers to join a rehearsal which will consist of all realistic phases of evacuation: assembly, registration, cross-border transport, reception and meals. The event will last around eight hours, including a concert in Lithuania’s Pasvalys before the return journey—a gesture of gratitude for the volunteers.