Day of Remembrance of Defenders of Freedom

Attempted capture of the television towerFreedom Defenders Day in Lithuania is a day to commemorate the victims of the bloody events of January 1991. On the night of January 13, 1991, Soviet troops attempted to seize the television tower with the support of tanks, and the whole world was watching the events in Vilnius closely. At that time, 14 people died under tanks and hundreds were injured – the price Lithuania paid for its independence.

1991, January 12 - the commander of the Vilnius military district Vladimir Uskhopchik calmly announced the upcoming maneuvers with the participation of Pskov paratroopers of the Alpha group. On the same day, after midnight, tanks advanced from a military town in Vilnius. The column stopped at the TV tower and the building of the Lithuanian Radio and Television. Until 2 a.m., television crews broadcast what was happening in the country, then military equipment surrounded their building and TV tower.

It was here that 14 civilians died, who came out to defend the independence of the country declared in March 1990. Special forces did not dare to attack - people were on duty here around the clock. Soviet troops left the country only after the August coup in Moscow.

The people of Lithuania were the first to defend the freedom of their country, which served as an example for other republics seeking independence.