Lithuanian military to continue guarding LNG terminal, critical infrastructure amid Russia provocation warnings

Amid warnings from President Gitanas Nausėda and other regional leaders about potential Russian provocations, the Lithuanian military will continue to help secure the Klaipėda liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and other critical infrastructure, LRT reports, citing BNS.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas signed an order on July 17 extending military support for the protection of key sites, including the LNG terminal in Klaipėda, the LitPol Link power interconnection with Poland (Alytus substation and transformer station in Alytus district), and the Kruonis pumped storage hydroelectric plant.

The military will provide assistance from July 19 to August 19, deploying up to 30 troops with transport, as well as a vessel with a crew. Operational coordination and specific tasks will be agreed upon with the Public Security Service, which oversees critical infrastructure protection.

The military has been supporting security for these facilities since June 18, following an earlier order signed by Kaunas on June 17. KN Energies, the operator of the Klaipėda LNG terminal, told BNS that military protection for critical infrastructure, including its LNG and liquid energy product terminals, began as early as June 11.

“In Lithuania, security for the most important critical infrastructure has been preventively strengthened since June 11. This includes infrastructure managed by KN Energies—the Klaipėda LNG terminal and the liquid energy products terminal in Klaipėda. Thus, for over a month now, both terminals have been additionally guarded by Lithuanian military forces,” the company stated.

KN Energies confirmed that the enhanced security measures were implemented due to the increased risk of provocations. “These measures are preventive and aimed at deterrence and the overall strengthening of site security,” the company said.

BNS reported that leaders of NATO’s eastern flank countries have recently publicly warned, based on intelligence, of Russia’s preparations to carry out provocations in their states using various kinetic means. In an interview with BNS last week, President Nausėda said that critical transport and energy infrastructure in Lithuania could be targeted, with both conventional and other means potentially used, such as sabotage.

Gitanas Nausėda’s senior national security advisor, Deividas Matulionis, told Žinių Radio on Tuesday that, in the event of a critical situation due to potential Russian provocations in the region, NATO allies would deploy more capabilities to Lithuania. Moscow’s alleged plans for provocations are linked to Russia’s difficulties on the battlefield in Ukraine and its desire to achieve some rapid success. The Kremlin denies the accusations, calling them a pretext for militarisation against Russia.