Šilainė Forest Bunker Complex

The forests near Šiauliai conceal extensive Cold War military infrastructure. During the Soviet era, the region was heavily militarized — Šiauliai's airbase was one of the most important Soviet military facilities in the Baltic states. Supporting this infrastructure was a network of underground bunkers, communication centers, and command posts hidden in the surrounding forests. The Šilainė complex is one of the more accessible of these sites. Reinforced concrete bunkers, blast doors, ventilation systems, and connecting tunnels are scattered through pine forest, slowly being reclaimed by nature. The bunkers were designed to survive nuclear attack and maintain command-and-control functions during a conflict — a sobering reminder of the Cold War's deadly seriousness in this frontline region.