Lithuania sees no major rise in threats, security chief says

Threat levels in Lithuania have not materially changed after Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said Russia was considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region using Ukrainian drones, LRT reported, citing BNS. However, significant work remains to counter potential threats, said Rimantas Sinkevičius, chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee.

“I want to reassure the public somewhat that the way the information was presented caused unnecessarily high concern. The threat level remains similar,” Sinkevičius told BNS on Friday after a closed committee meeting at the Second Department of Operational Services, known as AOTD.

He said the ongoing processes in hostile countries had not resulted in a significant increase in threats since June 5, when officials received a joint assessment by the State Security Department and AOTD on possible risks.

“Intelligence agencies speak about all possible scenarios and identify some facilities that are important infrastructure assets and important from a national security perspective,” Sinkevičius said. He added that Lithuania was not the only possible target and that other neighbouring countries could also be affected.

According to Sinkevičius, Lithuania is making progress in preventing such threats, but cannot prepare for every possibility. More work is needed to acquire defensive measures, organise prevention and protection efforts, and coordinate activities between institutions, including the relevant procedures and responsibilities.

Leaders of NATO’s eastern flank countries have recently publicly warned that they have intelligence about Russia preparing provocations in their countries using kinetic means.

President Gitanas Nausėda told BNS that critical transport and energy infrastructure could become targets in Lithuania, with attacks potentially involving conventional means or acts of sabotage.

Last week, it was also reported that Lithuanian military intelligence had information that Russia was considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region using Ukrainian drones. No further details were provided about possible targets or the timing of any attacks.

Since June 18, the Lithuanian military has supported the Public Security Service in protecting the liquefied natural gas terminal in Klaipėda, the LitPol Link electricity interconnection substation with Poland in Alytus, a transformer substation in Alytus District and the Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant.