A group of Lithuanian activists handed out condoms at the entrance to the Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius, where the city’s Russian community were marking Victory over Fascism Day.

The holiday, which was marked by a military parade in Moscow and events in some post-Soviet states, is not celebrated in Lithuania. The Soviet Red Army liberated Vilnius and Klaipėda from Nazi occupation, in 1944 and 1945 respectively, but remained, subjugating Lithuania under nearly 50 years of Soviet rule. Since independence, Lithuania and the other Baltic states have decisively broken with Russia. 

On the morning of May 9, the path leading to the soldiers' graves was covered with candles and flowers, Russian military songs were playing, and photos of Russian soldiers were placed along the walkway, delfi.lt reported.

At the same time, condoms were being distributed at the entrance to the cemetery. A representative of the organisation Sviesos vilkai (Wolves of Light), which organised the action, said that the condoms were being handed out to prevent the birth of people like Russian President Vladimir Putin, delfi.lt said.

No major incidents were reported, but Sviesos vilkai wrote on its Facebook page: “Over 200 condoms were distributed during the campaign, so that all of them would be used for their intended purpose.”

The organisation was set up to help and support Ukrainian soldiers and civilians after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

Meanwhile, a man near Antakalnis Cemetery drew the attention of police officers because he was wearing Soviet medals, Loreta Kairiene, a representative of the Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat, told ELTA, a Lithuanian news agency. Officers suspected that the medals might contain prohibited symbols.

Airspace closure 

The previous day, both Lithuania and Latvia denied airspace access to the leaders of Serbia and Slovakia en route to Moscow for Victory Day celebrations on May 9.

Russia sharply criticised the European Union for the decision. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the move, calling it an example of "uncivilised" tactics aimed at obstructing foreign dignitaries from attending the annual commemorations, TASS, a Russian state agency, reported on May 8.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the actions of the Baltic states as “another egregious case” of EU interference, particularly citing the refusal to allow Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s plane to transit their airspace.

"This is part of a broader campaign by Brussels to intimidate European leaders into avoiding Moscow," Zakharova said. "The most zealous EU members are closing transport routes to Russia in a blatant attempt to suppress the sovereign right of nations to conduct independent foreign policies,” TASS reported.

She further accused Lithuania and Latvia of acting as "Russophobic outposts" willing to take extreme steps to undermine Russia and its allies. "Such malicious intrigues will ultimately fail," she asserted, adding that Moscow's relationship with Belgrade remains strong and rooted in a shared history.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, another European leader attending the Moscow parade, faced similar challenges.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland closed their airspace to his official aircraft, despite a standing agreement that should have permitted the flight. With Ukrainian airspace closed since 2022 due to the ongoing war, Fico was forced to take a longer route via Turkey, Azerbaijan and Dagestan.