Russia spreading disinformation to fuel separatism in Klaipėda, Lithuanian security agency warns

Lithuania’s State Security Department (VSD) has accused Russia of orchestrating an online disinformation campaign targeting the port city of Klaipėda, aiming to stoke separatist sentiment and destabilise society, LRT reports.

Pro-Russian videos circulating on TikTok falsely claim the existence of a “Klaipėda People’s Republic” and assert that the city and its seaport belong to Russia. The clips, some generated with AI, feature altered imagery of Russian flags flying over Klaipėda and slogans like “Make Klaipėda Russian again”. One account, active since late March, has amassed 60 followers, with its most viewed post reaching nearly 16,000 views.

The VSD stated that fostering separatism is a deliberate tactic used by the Kremlin to undermine stability in foreign states and expand its influence. “These information attacks, creating fake separatist movements on social media, are executed by Russian intelligence services and other aggressive actors of the regime,” the agency told ELTA.

Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) noted that while the spread of these videos remains limited, their provocative nature could amplify disinformation efforts. The centre warned that even critical sharing of such content—intended to expose its falsehoods—can inadvertently boost its reach due to platform algorithms favouring polarising material.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid engaging with or disseminating the videos. Instead, users should report them to platforms and verify sources before sharing. “Basic information hygiene is key: don’t repost or comment in ways that increase visibility. Always pause before hitting ‘share’—it may serve the enemy’s goals,” the NKVC advised.

The tactic mirrors past Russian operations, including a 2015 campaign promoting a fictitious “Vilnius People’s Republic” in southeastern Lithuania. Similar methods were recently deployed in Estonia, where pro-Kremlin accounts pushed narratives about a “Narva People’s Republic” in the predominantly Russian-speaking border city, raising fears of a pretext for invasion akin to Russia’s 2014 actions in Ukraine.