Lithuanian leader warns of possible Russian provocations in Baltics, Poland

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda warned that intelligence information suggests Russia could be preparing provocations in Poland or the Baltic states aimed at testing NATO’s unity.

Speaking in an interview with BNS published on July 15, Nausėda confirmed recent reports in foreign media that Moscow may be planning limited attacks against critical infrastructure in the region using conventional methods or other means, Caliber.Az reports.

“We have received such signals from our intelligence services,” Nausėda noted. “They do not identify a specific place or time because that is simply impossible to determine. The other side may not even have completed its planning process, and we may only know about the planning itself or the intended objective.”

“So yes, I cannot deny that we have such information and that it concerns kinetic operations – not on a large scale, but targeted kinetic operations that are very likely to be directed against critical infrastructure,” he added.

The Lithuanian leader did not provide specific evidence behind the assessment or reveal possible targets of the alleged preparations.

According to Nausėda, Lithuania has recently increased security measures around key transport and energy infrastructure in response to the potential threat.

He noted that authorities were preparing for a wide range of possible scenarios, including attacks that could disrupt the operation of strategically important facilities.

“Anything that could stop these facilities from functioning is important because they matter not only in themselves but also because they ensure the functioning of the entire system, particularly our synchronisation with the continental European electricity grid,” Nausėda said.

Earlier, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also warned that Russia could be preparing a “false flag” operation involving the use of Ukrainian drones.

NATO members along the alliance’s eastern flank have repeatedly raised concerns over the growing threat of Russian sabotage and hybrid operations since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia has rejected accusations of involvement in such activities.

By Jeyhun Aghazada