3 weeks ago
Poland, Baltics shield infrastructure amid Russian false-flag attack fears
Some countries in Europe live right next to Russia.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are worried that Russia might secretly attack them using drones that look like they come from another country.
They want to protect important things like power plants, dams and gas pipes.
Lithuania sent soldiers to guard its gas terminal, oil terminal and power lines.
Latvia also made security stronger around its river dam and giant underground gas storage.
The countries say they are being careful and 'doing their homework.'
Russia says these worries are just 'scare stories' that people made up.
A Russian spokesperson says the warnings are used as an excuse to build up armies against Russia.
Other countries, like Germany, are also finding strange drones flying around, including one carrying explosives.
Nobody is sure what will happen, so everyone is trying to be ready just in case.
Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are tightening security around dams, power plants and natural gas infrastructure over fears Moscow will stage a 'false flag' attack using Ukrainian drones.
Lithuania dispatched the military to back up riot police in securing its LNG import terminal, oil products terminal, power link with Poland and the Kruonis Pumped Storage hydro plant.
Latvia increased security around all critical infrastructure, including the Daugava River dam near Riga and the Incukalns underground gas storage facility.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the warnings as 'scare stories', while a Baltic intelligence official said a possible false-flag attack could come within days of approval from leaders including Vladimir Putin.
Poland's Orlen is analyzing alternative gas import routes, its nuclear developer Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe flagged forged documents, and an explosives-carrying drone was found at Germany's Leipzig/Halle Airport.
- Who
- Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, including Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas and Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs; and Russia, including President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
- What
- Increasing security around dams, power plants and natural gas infrastructure amid fears that Moscow will stage a 'false flag' attack on them using Ukrainian drones to test NATO's response.
- Where
- Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Germany, with NATO headquarters in Brussels.
- When
- Reported Aug 10; Lithuania deployed troops last month, Russia accused the Baltics in May, and the explosives-carrying drone was found in Germany last week.
- Why
- Fears that Moscow could stage an attack to justify retaliation and test NATO's resolve at a time when U.S. commitment to the alliance is in question.
Western allies (Poland, Baltics, NATO)
Russian government
Planned false-flag attack
Western allies (Poland, Baltics, NATO)
Baltic intelligence assessments indicate Russian military and domestic intelligence agencies are planning a possible false-flag attack on infrastructure in Russia, the Baltics or Poland using Ukrainian-made drones.
Russian government
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calls such warnings 'scare stories' and Moscow says the West accuses it of malign acts without evidence.
Purpose of the security warnings
Western allies (Poland, Baltics, NATO)
Governments say they are 'not naive', read between the lines of intelligence and are taking precautionary steps because a potential hybrid threat is more likely than before.
Russian government
The warnings are used to justify militarization against Russia and reflect 'Russophobia' rather than real evidence.
Accusations over drone attacks
Western allies (Poland, Baltics, NATO)
The Baltics deny Russia's May accusation that they plan to let Ukrainian drones attack Russia from their territory and fear Moscow may stage such an attack to justify retaliation.
Russian government
Russia pledged to retaliate over the alleged Baltic plans to let Ukrainian drones attack Russian territory.
Key facts
- Reporting agency
- Reuters
- Report date
- Aug 10
- Countries involved
- Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Germany
- Lithuania's measures
- Military deployed to secure LNG terminal, oil terminal, power link with Poland and Kruonis Pumped Storage hydro plant
- Latvia's measures
- Increased security around Daugava River dam and Incukalns underground gas storage
- Russia's response
- Peskov calls warnings 'scare stories'; Moscow says the West accuses it without evidence out of 'Russophobia'
- Orlen gas imports
- 80% imported via Swinoujscie LNG terminal and undersea pipeline from Norway
- German drone incident
- Explosives-carrying drone found at Leipzig/Halle Airport; called a hybrid attack by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt
Quotes
Robertas Kaunas
Lithuanian Defence Minister
“We are increasing the security of our critical infrastructure, we constantly exchange information with our intelligence on what to do next.”
theprint.in
NDTV
“We are not naive, we see the information, we read between the lines and we are doing our homework.”
theprint.in
Dmitry Peskov
Kremlin spokesman
“Warnings of Russian clandestine attacks are "scare stories" used to justify militarisation against Russia.”
NDTV
Sources
Related news
Estonia Probes Possible Russian Link to Defence Contractor Arson
Europe Confronts Russia’s Alleged Hybrid Warfare and NATO Strains
Putin Could Strike NATO Allies to Test Bloc's Resolve
NATO jets down drone over Latvia, Finland restricts Baltic
Drone incursions sow fear along NATO's Baltic and Finnish borders
India’s SIP Boom Meets Years of Modest Market Returns
Americans Oppose Trump’s Canada Tariffs and Lake America Renaming
How Indian News Photographs Became National Visual Memory
Meta Removes Scam Ads After India Flags Porn Malware Bait
X’s Transparency Pledge Collides With India’s Secrecy Rules
