In recent months, European intelligence services have increasingly warned that, alongside its war in Ukraine, Russia is intensifying hybrid operations targeting Nato countries. Investigators in several states are dealing with suspected sabotage, arson attacks, damage to critical infrastructure, and the use of drones.
According to Western officials, this is part of a broader Russian campaign aimed at intimidating European countries, undermining their security and weakening support for Ukraine.
The latest warning came from Lithuania. Its military intelligence claims that Russia could use captured Ukrainian drones in attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region in order to create the impression that Kyiv was behind them.
“We are talking about a false-flag operation involving a fake Ukrainian drone… One of the aims is for Nato to hesitate and reduce its support for Ukraine. I can assure you that will not happen,” Lithuanian defence minister Robertas Kaunas said.
Lithuania’s warning came as security services in the region were dealing with several drone-related incidents. In recent months, Ukrainian long-range drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia after being diverted by Russian electronic jamming, according to Kyiv.
