Latvia warns of large-scale Russian information operation targeting Baltic states
Latvia warns of large-scale Russian information operation against Baltic states (photo: Getty Images)
Russia is conducting a large-scale, coordinated information operation against Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Moscow claims Baltic states allow use of their territory for Ukrainian drone attacks, Latvian Ministry of Defense press service reports.
The ministry noted that as part of this operation, Russia claims that the Baltic states allow the use of their territory for Ukrainian attacks on targets located on Russian territory.
Earlier, Russians spread information online claiming that the authorities of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia officially opened their airspace for Ukrainian drones — for attacks on Saint Petersburg, Leningrad region, and northwestern Russia.
An alternative route allegedly opened for Ukrainian Armed Forces by Baltic states includes bypassing Belarus through Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the waters of the Baltic Sea. This supposedly provides open access to the Gulf of Finland and allows bypassing air defense systems in regions.
"The Ministry of Defense states that Latvia, as well as Lithuania and Estonia, are not involved in planning or executing Ukraine's counterattacks against Russia," the Latvian Defense Ministry emphasized.
They added that the Baltic states support Ukraine by supplying military equipment, humanitarian aid, and providing financial assistance.
The ministry also stressed that Ukraine has a legitimate right to defend itself against a full-scale Russian invasion.
"Through such statements, Russia demonstrates its weakness and attempts to divert attention from the fact that it is unable to defend itself against successful Ukrainian counterattacks targeting Russian infrastructure along the Baltic Sea coast," the ministry said.
As explained by the ministry, the goal of Russian information operations against Baltic states is to discredit NATO, divide society, undermine trust in state institutions, and weaken support for Ukraine.
These efforts include disinformation and the use of bots on social media, targeting Russian-speaking audiences and exploiting youth.
The Russian drone entered Latvia
On March 25, Russian drones entered several Baltic countries. In Estonia, one of the drones crashed into the chimney of a power plant, while in Latvia, an explosion of another device was recorded, and debris was later found at the site.
In addition, the Russian drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia was equipped with explosives. According to the Latvian military, a hostile drone flew at low altitude, and its flight lasted 24 minutes.
Latvia issued an official protest to Russia over the violation of its airspace by a drone.
