Russia’s rhetoric and provocations are aimed at undermining public trust in the state and its institutions, Lithuania’s Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaikšnoras said on Thursday.
“The rhetoric from the Russian side over recent weeks, directed against the three Baltic states and Poland, likely has a specific purpose, as so far it remains limited to words,” Vaikšnoras told Žinių Radijas.
He noted that the escalating rhetoric has been accompanied by airspace violations in the Baltic region.
“We have lived for years in close proximity to a Russia that constantly seeks, in one form or another, to break not only Lithuania but also Latvia and Estonia. The current disinformation campaign is aimed at undermining faith in government institutions, the military, and the state in general – a process that has been ongoing since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the occupation of Donbas in Ukraine,” the military chief said.
Last week, the Interior Ministry said it was strengthening protection of strategic sites in response to potential Russian provocations.
Enhanced physical security for these facilities will be provided by the Public Security Service (VST), with support from the Lithuanian Armed Forces if necessary. Specific additional measures have not been disclosed.
According to the ministry, Russia has recently been spreading unfounded claims that the Baltic states are allowing their airspace or territory to be used for actions by other nations against Russia.
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