In the event of threats in real situations, the VMOC would be activated after the Seimas or the President announced mobilization. It is headed by the Chancellor of the Government.
“Aggressive actions of Russia and Belarus force us to remain constantly alert and ready not only to repel threats with weapons, but also to be able to ensure the continuity of vital functions of the state and civil life, uninterrupted provision of necessary services to the population in the event of an emergency,” said Chancellor of the Government Giedrė, who presided over the center. Balchytytė.
According to her, these exercises are intended to assess how the institutions are able to cope with this large-scale task, what is missing for its smooth implementation, to test resource mobilization procedures, the speed of response and the coherence of joint inter-institutional actions. By allowing you to see the areas that need to be corrected, the exercises will provide valuable experience for improving processes in the future
As announced by the Government Chancellery, during the exercise, VMOC’s activities were tested in controlling and coordinating the actions of civil mobilization institutions in carrying out their mobilization tasks.
Within the framework of the exercise scenario, the VMOC made proposals to the Government regarding the determination of the necessary tasks required to ensure the performance of state defense or other vital functions of the state for business entities. The challenges of coordinating public information and possible solutions were also discussed, and other tasks were tested.
This year, for the first time, the exercise “Perkūnos bastionas” also includes the exercises “Sventaragis” of the exercise series initiated by the Ministry of the Interior, which simulates the management of an emergency situation.
According to the Minister of the Interior, Agnė Bilotaitė, the crisis of illegal migration showed the potential of interaction between the internal affairs and national defense systems, which must be further exploited and increased. In response to the changed security environment, military-civilian cooperation takes on a new meaning.
“Recently, we have been facing new security challenges, hybrid threats, and in general, the security situation in the region is difficult to predict. In order to respond in a timely and appropriate manner, we need closer cooperation between institutions and greater integration, A. Bilotaitė is quoted in the ministry’s report. – All responsible institutions must be maximally prepared and take coordinated actions, therefore it is necessary to consistently train together and carry out such exercises.”
The institutions of the internal affairs system, the Lithuanian army, state and municipal institutions participate in joint exercises. The exercises are planned in order to harmonize the activities and capacities of these institutions, planned procedures, operational tactics, thus ensuring the security of the state during an emergency.
The actions of institutions and inter-institutional interaction in cases of emergency, mobilization and war are being tested in the exercises “Thunder Bastion” organized by the Defense Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces on September 27-29.
As announced, these exercises provide an opportunity to review the relevance of the legal framework, improve information exchange procedures, and train specialists and decision-makers at various levels in the specifics of crisis management.
The National Crisis Management Center, all ministries, eight municipalities of Southern Lithuania and many other institutions are participating in the exercise.
The Lithuanian army has been organizing such exercises since 2017.
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Interview with Chancellor of the Government Giedrė Balchytytė on VMOC and Emergency Preparedness
Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today, Chancellor Balchytytė. Could you start by explaining the role of the VMOC during emergencies?
Chancellor Balchytytė: Absolutely. The VMOC, or the State Emergency Operations Center, is activated when the Seimas or the President announces mobilization in response to threats. Our primary goal is to coordinate and manage the civil mobilization institutions to ensure that vital state functions and services remain uninterrupted during emergencies.
Interviewer: We’ve heard that recent exercises tested the effectiveness of these institutions. What were the main objectives of these exercises?
Chancellor Balchytytė: The exercises were designed to evaluate how well our institutions can respond to large-scale threats. We focused on assessing resource mobilization procedures, the speed of our response, and the coherence of actions between various inter-institutional teams. This allows us to identify areas needing improvement and provides us invaluable experience for refining our processes.
Interviewer: You mentioned the integration of military and civilian responses. Can you elaborate on that, especially in light of recent security challenges?
Chancellor Balchytytė: Certainly. The integration of military and civilian responses is crucial given the current security landscape influenced by aggression from Russia and Belarus. The crisis of illegal migration has highlighted the necessity for enhanced cooperation between defense and internal affairs systems. We must work together to effectively respond to hybrid threats and unpredictable security situations.
Interviewer: Minister Agnė Bilotaitė noted the importance of coordinated actions among responsible institutions. How do these exercises facilitate that cooperation?
Chancellor Balchytytė: These exercises allow various agencies to train together, simulating scenarios that require joint responses. By working side by side, we can improve communication and execution of tasks, which are vital for an effective response in real situations. It’s about building a seamless line of coordination that is only achievable through consistent, collaborative training.
Interviewer: what are the next steps following these exercises?
Chancellor Balchytytė: We will analyze the outcomes and feedback from the exercises to revise our strategies and improve our response mechanisms. Continuous improvement is essential, so we will implement necessary changes and ensure that all involved agencies are maximally prepared for future challenges.
Interviewer: Thank you, Chancellor Balchytytė, for sharing these insights into the vital work being done to ensure our safety and preparedness in uncertain times.
Chancellor Balchytytė: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we all remain vigilant and ready to act in the face of potential threats.
Interview with Chancellor of the Government Giedrė Balchytytė on VMOC and Emergency Preparedness
Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today, Chancellor Balchytytė. Could you start by explaining the role of the VMOC during emergencies?
Chancellor Balchytytė: Absolutely. The VMOC, or the State Emergency Operations Center, is activated when the Seimas or the President announces mobilization in response to threats. Our primary goal is to coordinate and manage the civil mobilization institutions to ensure that vital state functions and services remain uninterrupted during emergencies.
Interviewer: We’ve heard that recent exercises tested the effectiveness of these institutions. What were the main objectives of these exercises?
Chancellor Balchytytė: The exercises were designed to evaluate how well our institutions can respond to large-scale threats. We focused on assessing resource mobilization procedures, the speed of our response, and the coherence of actions between various inter-institutional teams. This allows us to identify areas needing improvement and provides us invaluable experience for refining our processes.
Interviewer: You mentioned the integration of military and civilian responses. Can you elaborate on that, especially in light of recent security challenges?
Chancellor Balchytytė: Certainly. The integration of military and civilian responses is crucial given the current security landscape influenced by aggression from Russia and Belarus. The crisis of illegal migration has highlighted the necessity for enhanced cooperation between defense and internal affairs systems. We must work together to effectively respond to hybrid threats and the unpredictable security situation we face.
Interviewer: How do you see the role of exercises like “Perkūnos bastionas” in enhancing this cooperation?
Chancellor Balchytytė: Exercises like “Perkūnos bastionas” are vital for testing the actions of institutions and their inter-institutional interaction during emergencies, mobilization, and war. They provide an opportunity to review legal frameworks, improve information exchange procedures, and train specialists and decision-makers at various levels. Such exercises ensure we are well-prepared, coordinated, and capable of maintaining state security during crises.
Interviewer: Thank you, Chancellor Balchytytė, for your insights into the important work being done to ensure our national security.
Chancellor Balchytytė: Thank you for having me. It’s essential for us to remain vigilant and prepared.
