Šalčininkai (pronunciationⓘ; Polish: Soleczniki; Yiddish: סאָלעטשניק Solechnik; Belarusian: Салечнікі) is a city in Vilnius County, in south-eastern Lithuania, situated south-east of Vilnius, near the border with Belarus.

The name of the city derives from Šalčia river, šalta meaning cold in Lithuanian.

[2] In the medieval period the region around Šalčininkai was dominated by Lithuanians and it was the birthplace of many authors of the earliest Lithuanian-language texts (including Stanislovas Rapalionis, Jurgis Zablockis and Aleksandras Rodūnonis [lt])[citation needed].

[citation needed] According to the latest census of 2021, Šalčininkai had 6857 inhabitants and features a multi-ethnic population of 4930 Poles (71.9%), 920 Lithuanians (15.7%), 438 Russians (6.4%), 286 Belarusians (4.2%), 61 Ukrainians (0,9%) and 222 people of other background (3.2%).

[5] In 2000 coat of arms of Šalčininkai was adopted by a decree of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, designed by Arvydas Každailis, coat of arms consists of three hazelnuts symbolizing solidarity.