Lithuania Raises Alarm: Russia Preparing Provocations Against NATO
Germany also on high alert after finding drone with explosives at Leipzig airport.
Germany also on high alert after finding drone with explosives at Leipzig airport.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas warned on Wednesday that Russia may be preparing so-called "false flag" operations against NATO member states in the Baltic region. According to him, although there is no specific information about a date, Lithuanian authorities are closely monitoring Russian activities and sharing intelligence with Poland and other allies.
The term "false flag," as reported by The Guardian, refers to an attack or incident deliberately carried out to attribute responsibility to someone other than the actual perpetrator. In this case, there are fears that Russia could use captured or reconstructed Ukrainian drones to provoke an incident and test NATO's readiness to continue supporting Ukraine.
According to information relayed by the BNS news agency, Moscow, as outlined in one of the possible scenarios being analyzed by intelligence services, is considering striking vital facilities in the Baltic states. Lithuanian media outlet 15min also reported on this possibility. However, Kaunas emphasized that the risk of a direct conventional military attack on Lithuania remains low.
"We assess and continuously monitor the threat level," Minister Kaunas told Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT.
Meanwhile, Germany has also raised its alert level. A drone with explosives was found at Leipzig airport, which serves as a logistics hub for the German military, NATO, and the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned that this discovery represents a "new level of danger" for the country.
An investigation is currently underway to determine whether a foreign power was involved in the foiled incident, and the case is being treated as a potentially professionally organized hybrid threat. Suspicion therefore points to Russia, although German officials have not publicly accused anyone so far. In a separate incident, a DHL cargo plane collided with an unknown object during a go-around but landed safely at another airport.
Tensions are further underscored by a conversation between NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday. Rutte wrote on social media platform X that they discussed "the latest horrific Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities" and that he is coordinating with allies to urgently provide Ukraine with the necessary air defense.
