Lithuania warns Russia may stage false-flag attacks with captured Ukrainian drones

Lithuanian defence officials say Russia is contemplating the use of seized Ukrainian drones to conduct provocations in the Baltic area, aiming to undermine NATO support for Kyiv.

Lithuanian intelligence officials have warned that Russia is evaluating the deployment of Ukrainian drones it has captured to stage false-flag incidents across the Baltic region, according to defence minister Robertas Kaunas. The alleged operation would aim to create the impression of Ukrainian aggression, hoping to erode NATO cohesion and diminish Western assistance to Kyiv. President Gitanas Nauseda previously said intelligence pointed to Russian plans to strike infrastructure, leading to heightened protection of energy and transport facilities.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeled those warnings as scare stories meant to justify further militarisation against Russia. Poland and the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—have all voiced concerns that Moscow seeks to shift focus from the war in Ukraine. Drone flights originating from Ukraine have recently entered Finnish and Baltic airspace, which Kyiv attributes to Russian signal-jamming and spoofing, while Russia accuses the Baltic nations of facilitating Ukrainian attacks. The Baltic countries and Ukraine deny any collusion.