Sinkevičius says Lithuania’s threat level has not changed drastically

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said Lithuania’s threat level had not changed drastically but still existed, seeking to reassure the public after reports that Russia was considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region using Ukrainian drones, LRT reported.

“A certain level of threat exists. We have experienced various hybrid attacks in the past, including illegal migrants from Belarus, drones and balloons. The threats remain, but I would not say that citizens should be additionally afraid of anything,” Sinkevičius told journalists at Antakalnis Cemetery on Thursday.

He said all publicly released information had to be “very carefully measured” and that the public should not be frightened.

“The state is preparing and working quietly, without explaining too much so that unfriendly states and neighbours do not know too much. But we are monitoring and assessing situations and will always respond appropriately,” the prime minister said.

Sinkevičius said Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was continuing and that the war was creating various situations not only in Lithuania but also elsewhere, including reports of drones and explosives at an airport in Germany.

He said false-flag operations could take place not only in Lithuania but also elsewhere in the Baltic states and in Poland, adding that this possibility could not be ruled out. However, he stressed that Lithuania was protecting critical facilities.

“I recently visited Klaipėda and looked into how the protection of our liquefied natural gas terminal was going. A few days ago, I met with military commanders and Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas. I asked to be personally informed about the critical points and the specific situation,” Sinkevičius said.

He listed the Kruonis hydroelectric pumped-storage plant, the liquefied natural gas terminal, railway hubs and electricity substations among the facilities being monitored.

Media reported on Thursday that Lithuanian military intelligence had information indicating that Russia was considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region using Ukrainian drones. No further information about possible targets or the timing of any attacks has been released.

Russia could use intercepted Ukrainian drones to conceal the source of an attack and deny responsibility for attacking NATO territory, according to the reports.

BNS reported that leaders of countries on NATO’s eastern flank had recently warned publicly that they possessed intelligence about Russia preparing to conduct provocations in their countries using kinetic means.

President Gitanas Nausėda has told BNS that critical transport and energy infrastructure could become targets in Lithuania, either through conventional means or acts of sabotage.

Since June 18, the military has been assisting the Public Security Service in protecting the liquefied natural gas terminal in Klaipėda, the LitPol Link electricity interconnection switchyard in Alytus, a transformer substation in the Alytus district and the Kruonis hydroelectric pumped-storage plant.