RIA Novosti article on a supposed Russian-Lithuanian special operation vanishes after publication

On Friday morning, the Russian state news service RIA Novosti released an article suggesting a forthcoming short Russian special operation against Lithuania, framing it as part of an ongoing war. The story was displayed on the agency’s main page but was taken down later that day. Opposition media Agentstvo reported the disappearance via Telegram.

The article echoed rhetoric from Alexander Nosovitsh, a senior editor and member of Russia’s foreign and defence council, who has previously written about Lithuania’s proposed constitutional amendment that could allow foreign military bases and potentially nuclear weapons. Nosovitsh’s commentary portrays Lithuania as a threat comparable to Ukraine and warns of rapid conflict in the Baltic region, hinting at missile use rather than ground forces. The original text remains accessible on another Russian website.