Lithuania reinforces Russian border patrols after Latvia incident

Lithuania has assigned about 100 soldiers to help guard its border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said the temporary reinforcement was not unusual and was intended to address possible provocations, LRT reported.

“This is not an exercise,” Sinkevičius told reporters on Thursday. He said the decision had been made public to avoid causing surprise and that border patrols would be strengthened temporarily in response to possible risks linked to Russia’s actions.

Sinkevičius said the move was also connected to an incident in Latvia, the possibility of further mobilisation in Russia and indications that some people might try to avoid mobilisation.

The Lithuanian military began supporting the State Border Guard Service on October 8. Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas described the step as preventive, citing public information, rather than intelligence, about planned mobilisation in Russia after its State Duma election. He said the threat level at the border had not risen.

The decision followed an incident earlier this week in which at least 20 people attempting to cross the Latvia-Belarus border illegally were led by masked escorts. BNS reported that masked people later entered Latvian territory, damaged an electricity distribution box and stole video cameras before leaving for Belarus ahead of the arrival of border guards.

The Lithuanian military said its personnel would patrol border guard post areas alongside border officials. Mobile patrols, mobile observation posts and Military Police crews may also be used if needed.