Lithuania marks Freedom Day with ceremonial flag-raising in Vilnius

Lithuania marked Freedom Day in Vilnius with a ceremonial raising of the national and historic flags at Lukiškės Square, commemorating the departure of the last Russian military unit from the country.

Before the ceremony, a military band, honor guard and soldiers marched from Cathedral Square along Gediminas Avenue. The event included the Lithuanian national anthem and speeches by President Gitanas Nausėda, army commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras and Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa.

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Freedom Day is not a distant echo of the past, but the living, vivid reality of a nation breathing freedom.

Nausėda presented the anniversary as a reminder of the determination and courage that secured Lithuania’s independence, while warning that freedom still required protection. He said Freedom Day was “not a distant echo of the past, but the living, vivid reality of a nation breathing freedom.”

The president also pointed to the threat posed by Russia to Lithuania and other European countries. He called for stronger national defenses and greater social resilience, and said support for Ukraine was essential because Ukraine’s security was also Lithuania’s security.

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But Ukraine’s victory alone will not be enough if we forget ourselves and neglect the country’s defense. The old monster has not disappeared.

Vaikšnoras recalled taking part as a young officer in 1993 in the handover of a Russian military site at Rukla. “Our duty is to do everything so that it never returns,” he said. The final Russian military echelon crossed the Kena railway station at 11:46 p.m. on August 31, 1993, leaving Lithuania shortly before midnight.

Lithuania declared independence on March 11, 1990. Before the withdrawal, roughly five Russian divisions were stationed in the country, comprising about 34,500 troops, 1,000 tanks, 180 aircraft and 1,900 armored vehicles.

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Our duty is to do everything so that it never returns.