On NATO's eastern flank: How Lithuania is strengthening its defences

The ground shakes as German Leopard tanks fire at their targets, drones buzz overhead and Tiger helicopters roar low across the training area.

Less than an hour's drive from Vilnius, tanks, helicopters, fighter jets and nearly 3,000 soldiers are simulating Lithuania's defence against a potential Russian attack.

Over the course of roughly six weeks, nearly 2,900 NATO troops, including around 2,300 German Bundeswehr soldiers, trained to defend NATO's eastern flank during the "Freedom Shield I" exercise.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the prospect of a future attack on NATO territory has become a central concern for Europe.

NATO leaders and allied intelligence assessments have repeatedly warned that Moscow could rebuild its military capabilities over the coming years, reinforcing the urgency of strengthening the Alliance's eastern flank.