January Events

January Events Lithuanian: Sausio įvykiai
Part of the Revolutions of 1989, the Singing Revolution, and the Dissolution of the Soviet Union
A man with a Lithuanian flag in front of a Soviet tank, 13 January 1991
Date 11–13 January 1991 Location Lithuania Result Lithuanian victory Soviet forces withdraw from the cities Lithuanian statehood preserved
Belligerents
Lithuania Department of National Defense Lithuanian Riflemen's Union	Soviet Union Soviet Army 76th Airborne Division[1] KGB Alpha Group[1] National Salvation Committee of the Lithuanian SSR
Commanders and leaders
Vytautas Landsbergis Albertas Šimėnas  (AWOL) Gediminas Vagnorius Audrius Butkevičius	Mikhail Gorbachev Vladislav Achalov Mykolas Burokevičius
Casualties and losses
14 civilians killed 1 civilian died due to heart attack 702 injured	1 KGB soldier (friendly fire)

The January Events (Lithuanian: Sausio įvykiai) were a series of violent confrontations between the civilian population of Lithuania, supporting independence, and the Soviet Armed Forces. The events took place between 11 and 13 January 1991, after the restoration of independence by Lithuania. As a result of the Soviet military actions,^[2][3] 14 civilians were killed and over 140 were injured as they peacefully protested for freedom in what is known as the Vilnius massacre.^[4][5][6] The 13th of January was the most violent day of the month in Lithuania and this was the bloodiest act of repression by Soviet forces since the April 9 tragedy.^[7] The events were primarily centered in the capital city Vilnius, but Soviet military activity and confrontations also occurred elsewhere in the country, including Alytus, Šiauliai, Varėna and Kaunas.^[8]

January 13th is the Day of the Defenders of Freedom (Lithuanian: Laisvės Gynėjų Diena) in Lithuania and it is officially observed as a commemorative day.^[9]