Lithuania expels three Ukrainians over hostile intelligence tasks

Lithuania has designated three Ukrainian citizens a threat to national security and expelled them for carrying out tasks for hostile intelligence services, the State Security Department said, LRT reported. The three have been barred from returning to Lithuania for five years.

Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas said they had gathered information about strategic facilities and filmed them. He said the activity was incompatible with lawful residence in Lithuania and worked against the country’s interests. The information could later be used for sabotage or other threats, he added.

Katelynas said people are often recruited through messaging apps, where they are offered payment to carry out tasks. The department said the three Ukrainians received a range of assignments through Telegram and other messaging platforms.

The minister said he could not confirm whether the three had already left Lithuania, saying he did not have details from the Migration Department.

In September, the department said 22 Belarusian citizens working at a technology company had been designated threats to national security. Their temporary residence permits were revoked, they were expelled, and they were barred from entering the Schengen area for five years. The department said the company was involved in a project for the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and that the individuals had fraudulently obtained nearly 500,000 euros.

Katelynas says Polish border incident is unrelated to Lithuania

Katelynas said a possible provocation reported by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk near Poland’s border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region was not connected to Lithuania. He said the situation at Lithuania’s border remained stable and that no unrest had been reported.

Tusk said people carrying flashlights had been spotted in the border area on Tuesday night and that Polish border guards had prevented an incident. Katelynas said he could not provide details about the reported provocation because the information was not public.