Recent incursions into the airspace of the Baltic region have heightened interest in what Kyiv has learned over more than four years of war with Russia. This is reported by Politico.
In recent weeks, Baltic companies have reached out to Ukrainian defense product manufacturers and civil defense specialists to discuss the procurement of bomb shelters, said Igor Fedorco, head of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Council.
It was noted that last week, the president and prime minister of Lithuania were urgently evacuated to underground bunkers, and residents of Vilnius were strongly advised to seek shelter in a safe place after a drone violated the country's airspace.
Military authorities stated that the incident "resembles what we have observed in recent days in Latvia and Estonia."
Discussions about bomb shelters reflect growing concern on NATO's eastern flank regarding the scale and intensity of the Russian drone campaign against Ukraine, as well as fears that even a limited invasion or subsequent attack could break the defense in the early stages of the conflict.
In a state of heightened readiness, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius traveled to Lithuania to meet with the leaders of the Baltic states.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that his country has long been prepared for Russian attacks and has sufficient experience to protect its population.
Representatives of the Baltic states fear that their small geographical territory and high concentration of urban population leave no room for error in the event of a large-scale attack. Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kownas said:
"This is essentially a new reality that the Baltic states are facing. Therefore, we need to adapt."
Importantly, the growing concern has even affected the real estate markets of the Baltic states. In Vilnius, real estate listings have begun to feature basement spaces and fortified underground areas advertised as potential shelters in the event of shelling or drone attacks.
Russian Threats to the Baltic States
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service issued threats against Latvia, stating that "the coordinates of decision-making centers on Latvian territory are well known." The statement from Russian intelligence also contained a threat of "just retribution," from which "the country's NATO membership will not protect."
Russia accused Latvia of allegedly consenting to the launch of Ukrainian drones from its territory targeting facilities in Russia.
Leave a comment