London, UK – Poland and the Baltic states are strengthening security around oil infrastructure amid the rising concern that the Kremlin plans to stage a false-flag operation on them using Ukrainian drones, Reuters reported on August 10.
Last week, Lithuanian Defence Minister Robert Kaunas said that Russia is planning on using captured Ukrainian drones to stage the provocations in the Baltic region to test the NATO response.
“We are talking about a false flag operation, using a false Ukrainian drone,” said Kaunas. “One of the goals is for NATO to waver and decrease support to Ukraine, I can assure this will not happen.”
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed those warnings of possible Russian attacks to be “scare stories” used to justify militarization and NATO strengthening against Russia.
“This is simply the latest batch of such ‘scare stories’ designed to continue brainwashing the public and to prepare the population for further militarization,” Peskov said in response to questions from Interfax, a Russian news agency, regarding possible attacks.
Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have reportedly discovered Ukrainian-made drones along their borders with Russia. Last month, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Warsaw knows “what Russia is capable of,” as Ukrainian-made drones have been regularly found near the border since the full-scale invasion began.
“Our vigilance and information that such actions may occur is an important element,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz during a press conference on July 21.
According to Minister Kaunas, regional leaders do not believe Peskov’s reassurances. “We are not naive, we see the information, we read between the lines and we are doing our homework,” Kaunas told Reuters.
He added that he, alongside four intelligence and company officials from across the Baltic region, are preparing measures to be taken to protect the infrastructure from possible attacks. Lithuania is deploying regular military forces and riot police to protect liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals and the LitPol Link power interconnector with Poland.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs confirmed tightening security and surveillance around Daugava river hydro dam and the Inčukalns underground gas storage facility.
Polish grid operator PSE and military units began deploying security around cross-border power transmission lines connected to Ukraine to stabilise regional power grids.
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