“The assessment is the same as Lithuania’s – Russia is trying to intensify actions without reaching the hot phase, the fifth (NATO – BNS) article situations, thus aiming to reduce support for Ukraine, raise questions about why such things are happening in our neighborhood, sabotage operations, assassination attempts, and the like, while we are still involved in various things supporting Ukraine,” K. Budrys said in a comment provided by the ministry on Thursday.
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“We know that neither in Lithuania nor anywhere else will this achieve results, that is, the public will not start doubting support for Ukraine, and we must continue this, and continue to put pressure on Russia,” the foreign minister noted.
BNS wrote that Europe has been facing a hybrid attack campaign carried out by Moscow in recent years, aimed at undermining support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday charges against five individuals organizing attacks and murders worldwide, including in the United States and Lithuania. The suspects remain at large.
According to the department, this global network has been operating since at least 2024, and recently, under Kremlin orders, tried to recruit people in the US to track and kill Russian dissidents.
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Meanwhile, NATO fighters shot down a drone violating Lithuanian airspace for the first time on Tuesday night. The aircraft, which flew in from Belarus, was destroyed in the Kaišiadorys district, near the Kruonis pumped-storage hydroelectric plant.
Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed on Thursday that it was a Russian drone, whose target was not Lithuania but Ukraine.
President Gitanas Nausėda earlier stated that this incident should not be considered a violation of NATO’s fifth article, as it is a “secondary consequence of the war in Ukraine.” Lithuania delivered a protest note to Belarus over this incident.
