Lithuania, Poland and other Baltic States are stepping up security around dams, power plants and natural gas infrastructure amid concerns that Russia could stage “false-flag” attacks intended to trigger confusion within NATO, Reuters reports.
Lithuania has strengthened protection of critical infrastructure after its military intelligence reportedly obtained information that Russia was considering attacks in the Baltic region using captured Ukrainian drones in an attempt to obscure their origin.
NATO’s eastern-flank countries have also publicly warned in recent weeks that they have intelligence indicating Russia could be preparing to carry out provocations using kinetic means.
Since June 18, Lithuania’s military has been supporting the Public Security Service in protecting the country’s liquefied natural gas terminal in Klaipeda, the LitPol Link electricity interconnection substation with Poland in Alytus, a transformer substation in the Alytus district and the Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas signed an order July 17 extending the security support through August 19. The military is authorised to deploy a unit of up to 30 personnel, equipped with vehicles, as well as a vessel or boat with a crew.
Kaunas, the Latvian prime minister and four intelligence and corporate officials from across the region shared new details of intelligence assessments and measures being taken to protect infrastructure in interviews with Reuters.
“We are increasing the security of our critical infrastructure, we constantly exchange information with our intelligence on what to do next,” Kaunas told Reuters.
Latvia has increased security around all critical infrastructure, including a dam on the Daugava River near Riga and the Incukalns underground natural gas storage facility, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs told Reuters.
In Poland, energy company Orlen is examining alternative natural gas import routes in case its usual supplies or infrastructure are threatened, a person familiar with the company’s operations told Reuters.
Orlen imports about 80% of Poland’s gas through the Swinoujscie liquefied natural gas terminal on the Baltic Sea and an undersea pipeline carrying Norwegian gas that comes ashore nearby. Gaz-System, which operates the infrastructure, is working under heightened alert conditions, another person familiar with the matter has told Reuters.
Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe, the state-owned company developing Poland’s first nuclear power plant, said forged company documents had surfaced in an apparent attempt to mislead stakeholders. The company said the trail led “east of Poland”.
The company is investigating the matter with intelligence and law enforcement agencies and monitoring the planned construction site for possible sabotage or other threats, spokesman Marcin Skolimowski said.
Poland’s electricity grid operator and a military unit also began increasing security in July around an electricity connection with Ukraine that helps stabilise the war-damaged country’s power grid, which is regularly targeted by Russian attacks. (LRT)