Public Security Service (Lithuania)
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The Public Security Service or VST (Lithuanian: Viešojo saugumo tarnyba) is a Lithuanian law enforcement agency under the Ministry of the Interior. It is primarily involved in restoring the public order and serving as the main riot police force equipped for riot control as well as critical infrastructure protection. The VST also assists Lithuanian law enforcement in rescuing hostages.
VST is a member of the European Gendarmerie Force. Similarly to gendarmeries in other states, VST is a paramilitary organization which has greater combat capability than the regular police. During the state of war, VST becomes directly subordinate to the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
History
The origins of the special purpose law enforcement can be traced back to the armed formations of the Lithuanian Tribunal in the 17th century, specifically the Infantry Company of the Lithuanian Tribunal. The modern precursor of the institution was the Brigade of the Local Army (Lithuanian: Vietinės kariuomenės brigada) established in February 1920, but disbanded a few years later.
The current institution was formed on 18 October 1991 and was known as the Internal Service Unit (Lithuanian: Vidaus tarnyba) until 2002 when, following its reorganization, it was renamed to the Public Security Service. The institution is regulated by the Law on the Public Security Service 2006.
In May 2025, the VST reported that another ORKA unit will be formed in Vilnius.
Organization
As of 2024, the service consists of the following units:
- Vilnius Unit
- Kaunas Unit
- Klaipėda Unit
- Visaginas Unit
- Operational Response Counterattack Team (ORKA)
- Joint Operations Center
- Training and combat training center
- Staff Unit
Ranks
Officers
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithuanian Public Security Service vte | ||||||||||
| Generolas | Pulkininkas | Pulkininkas leitenantas | Majoras | Kapitonas | Vyresnysis leitenantas | Leitenantas |
Other ranks
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithuanian Public Security Service vte | |||||||||
| Vyresnysis puskarininkis | Puskarininkis | Jaunesnysis puskarininkis | Grandinis |
Equipment
Some of the VST equipment includes:
- Volkswagen Crafter vans, Iveco EuroCargo and Mercedes-Benz Atego transporters (used for convoy and prisoner transport)
- IAG Guardian and INKAS Sentry armoured personnel carriers