Emerging Challenges
Russia accused of planning attacks on Baltic, Polish infrastructure
Lithuanian and Latvian presidents warned Wednesday that Russia is planning attacks on critical energy and transport infrastructure in the Baltic states and Poland, citing intelligence that the plotting is being directed from the highest levels in Moscow as Moscow seeks to test NATO’s Article 5 commitments amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
![Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrives for a dinner of the Coalition of the Willing to support Ukraine at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on July 13, 2026. [Ludovic marin/AFP]](/gc7/images/2026/07/18/57044-afp__20260713__c23n3nk__v1__highres__franceukrainerussiaconflictdiplomacydefence-370_237.webp)
AFP |
Russia is planning attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic states or Poland, the presidents of Lithuania and Latvia warned on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports.
"We are talking about energy and transport infrastructure -- facilities where damage could... disrupt the functioning of the entire energy system," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said at a joint press conference in Vilnius with his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics.
"This planning is taking place at the highest level, effectively in Moscow," he added.
Rinkevics warned that the Baltic region -- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which, like Poland, are all EU and NATO members -- must be prepared for provocative actions by Russia as it seeks to "test" the alliance's mutual defense pact amid its war in Ukraine.
![IL-20PP reconnaissance aircraft of the Russian Air Force in flight. [Artem Alexandrovich/StockTrek Images/AFP]](/gc7/images/2026/07/18/57045-afp__20260131__ank100898m__v1__highres__il20ppreconnaissanceaircraftoftherussianairf-370_237.webp)
"Even without a total Ukrainian victory, Russia may indirectly test Article 5 and response mechanisms at the alliance and European Union levels," he said.
The warnings are the latest in a series of alarms from leaders along NATO's eastern flank who suggest Russia may be trying to test the alliance as the Ukraine war drags on after more than four years.
In late June, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a press conference "various types of escalation can be expected in the coming weeks and months", calling the situation "very unstable".
Baltic and Polish officials have already linked Russia to several incidents including arson, cyberattacks and diversions on railway lines.
The Lithuanian president said his country had strengthened protection of its transport and energy infrastructure in response to the threats.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov disputed the claims.
"This is just another fresh batch of scare stories designed to keep the brainwashing going and prepare the population for further militarization," he said.
Located along the Baltic Sea and bordering Russia and its close ally, Belarus, Lithuania has been a key ally to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Lithuania is NATO's highest security spender in relative terms, allocating 5.33 percent of its GDP to defense.