How can Lithuania strengthen societal resilience against hybrid threats and ensure the continuity of essential state functions in times of crisis? What measures should be taken today, and what lessons can be learned from Ukraine’s experience? These questions were addressed during the discussion “Before the Crisis: Integrating Ukraine’s Lessons for Baltic-Nordic Resilience”, organised by the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center on the sidelines of the “Defending Baltics 2026” conference.
During the discussion, Lithuanian and Swedish experts explored how lessons learned from Ukraine’s experience of war can be applied to strengthen both countries’ preparedness for potential crises. Particular attention was given to protecting critical infrastructure and essential services, strengthening societal resilience against disinformation and other hybrid threats, and enhancing cooperation between government institutions, municipalities, businesses, and civil society.
The discussion brought together Cecilia Lagerdahl, Project Manager at the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency; Elias Norin, representative of the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency; Donatas Gurevičius, Advisor at the Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania; Martynas Banys, Emergency Medicine Physician with field experience in Ukraine; and Tautvydas Jaškūnas, head of national security compliance, LTG Group (Lithuanian Railways). The discussion was moderated by Donata Ketlerytė, Project Manager at the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center.
The event was organised as part of a project implemented by the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center in cooperation with the Swedish Institute and the Embassy of Sweden in Lithuania.
