Russia using drone incidents as cover for information operation - Lithuanian State Security Department

VILNIUS - The director of Lithuania's State Security Department, Remigijus Bridikis, said on Tuesday that Russia is conducting an information operation against Lithuania and other Baltic states amid recent drone incidents, testing their readiness for various scenarios, including military ones.

According to Bridikis, Moscow's goal is to deter countries in the Baltic Sea region from providing further support to Ukraine.

"We must understand that, first and foremost, an information operation is being conducted against us, pressuring us to abandon or limit our support for Ukraine," Bridikis said.

As Ukraine has targeted northwestern Russia with drones in recent months, some of these unmanned aerial vehicles have crossed into the airspace of the Baltic states.

Russia claims that the Baltic states are knowingly allowing their territory to be used for Ukrainian drone attacks. The Baltic states deny this, arguing that the drones enter their airspace after being diverted off course by Russian electronic warfare measures.

According to Bridikis, Russia's actions could be part of a broader plan combining information pressure with potential provocations.

In the Russian public sphere, claims about the security of the Baltic states and Kaliningrad are being escalated and linked to potential regional threats. President Gitanas Nauseda has previously stated that the warring parties should not use Lithuanian territory for drone attacks in order to reduce regional tensions.

When asked about the president's actions and whether his stance might have been influenced by Russian narratives about Kaliningrad, the head of the security department replied that the institutions rely on intelligence.

The intelligence chief also emphasized that there are currently no signs that Russia could pose a conventional challenge to NATO, although it may undertake various unconventional activities.

He said that Moscow's plans to appeal to the International Court of Justice with accusations against the Baltic states over alleged violations are seen as part of a broader information campaign used to create pressure or for further escalation.

The head of the security department said that such legal or diplomatic steps could also be laying the groundwork for various scenarios, but do not necessarily signal a direct confrontation.

He added that Russia is constantly testing how easily it can achieve its goals by overpowering opponents with either military force or other means.