The increasing statements from Russian officials and other provocations against the Baltic States are primarily aimed at undermining citizens' trust in state institutions. This opinion was expressed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Lithuania, Raimundas Vaikšnoras.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Lithuania, Raimundas Vaikšnoras, believes that the increase in aggressive rhetoric from Russia towards the Baltic States is driven not only by foreign policy goals but also by attempts to influence public sentiment within these countries.
According to him, in recent weeks, Moscow has increasingly made sharp statements against Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland, while various incidents, including violations of airspace in the region, have also been recorded.
"The rhetoric of recent weeks from Russia directed against the three Baltic States and Poland likely has some purpose, as so far it is only words," Vaikšnoras stated on the air of the Žinių radijas radio station.
In the commander's opinion, such actions are part of a broader campaign that has been ongoing for many years.
"The disinformation campaign being conducted today aims to undermine trust in both the authorities and the army, and overall, probably to erode people's trust in the state," he said.
Vaikšnoras noted that such processes have been observed since 2014, after the annexation of Crimea and the start of hostilities in Donbas.
According to him, Moscow's strategy is to create divisions within the societies of neighboring countries.
"Russia has never been idle, never asleep. (...) Its goal is to divide and conquer. They cannot dominate yet, but they can divide society and reduce trust," the commander emphasized.
He also linked the current increase in Kremlin rhetoric to the situation on the front in Ukraine. In Vaikšnoras's opinion, Russia is facing serious difficulties and may be seeking ways to increase pressure on other countries in the region.
"They are losing the initiative, the Ukrainians are quite effectively beating them, excuse my expression," the commander stated.
"We may not yet know what he is planning, but he may be plotting something, and such indirect signals make us more vigilant," he added, speaking about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Against this backdrop, Lithuanian authorities are already taking additional security measures. Last week, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Lithuania announced the strengthening of security for strategically important objects. This primarily concerns critical infrastructure, including the energy sector.
What is important to know: Lithuanian authorities emphasize that these are preventive measures, not a reaction to a specific threat. The goal is to increase the country's resilience in the event of possible provocations or sabotage.
According to Vaikšnoras, the army has already allocated forces to assist in securing certain facilities after a request from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"This is one of our duties under the law — to assist when requested," he noted.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs had also previously pointed out the claims spread by Russia that the Baltic States allegedly provide their territory or airspace for actions against Russia.
In Vilnius, such statements are deemed unfounded and viewed as part of information pressure.
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the region, Lithuanian authorities state the need to maintain heightened vigilance and strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure.
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