A German Brigade Has Begun Exercises Near The Border With Belarus

• 11.06.2026, 13:46

The exercises are taking place in Lithuania.

In Lithuania, the military exercise "Freedom Shield 2026" has begun, taking place at the Pabrade training ground—approximately 15 kilometers from the border with Belarus. The exercises are being organized by a German brigade intended to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, reports dpa.

According to the Bundeswehr, tanks, unmanned aerial vehicles, and electronic warfare systems will be deployed during the exercises. Soldiers from the 45th Tank Brigade are practicing maneuvers based on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.

About 2,900 military personnel are participating in the exercises, of whom more than 2,300 represent Germany. In addition, about 800 pieces of military equipment from eight NATO countries are being deployed.

As noted by the dpa news agency, this is the first time that a German brigade formed for permanent deployment in Lithuania has conducted large-scale training directly on the territory of the country where it is scheduled to be deployed as early as next year.