Lithuania to dig defensive trenches along borders with Russia and Belarus
Lithuania plans to dig trenches along its borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast, DW reported on August 12.
Lithuania has announced plans to construct defensive trenches along its borders with Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast, according to a report by DW on August 12. The government's decision was endorsed following a suggestion from the Ministry of Defense, with the trenches expected to span an average of 20 meters in width, reaching up to 150 meters in designated areas, as per Lithuania's military objectives.
The project, with an estimated budget of €50 million, is slated for completion by 2028. In parallel, Lithuania's authorities have also committed to restoring marshlands by 2030 to render the terrain inhospitable for large military vehicles. Further bolstering its defenses, Lithuania plans to establish additional military depots filled with engineering barriers, including anti-tank hedgehogs, concrete barriers, and barbed wire.
These measures are part of broader security upgrades across Poland and the Baltic states, in response to concerns over potential Russian false-flag attacks utilizing Ukrainian drones, as reported by Reuters on August 10. Lithuania had previously cautioned Moscow about possible staged attacks, while neighboring Poland, Latvia, and Estonia voiced alarms over potential Russian sabotage aimed at gauging NATO's readiness.
These apprehensions are compounded by questions about the United States' ongoing commitment to the alliance. Col. Paweł Szota, the head of Poland’s Foreign Intelligence Agency, stated on June 28 that Russia was poised to deploy 'little green men' into the Baltic states, suggesting Putin might continue fighting in Ukraine for extended periods while conducting hybrid attacks along NATO's eastern periphery.
Lithuania's Defense Ministry, however, presented a more cautious view on June 29, asserting that there were no concrete indications that Russia was presently gearing up for a full-scale military assault on the Baltic states. The Telegraph, citing sources close to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, reported on July 3 that the United States had cautioned Warsaw of a potential Russian armed provocation either originating from Kaliningrad or Belarus, potentially involving missile or drone strikes, or even direct troop crossings into Poland.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski echoed these concerns on July 15, hinting at a possible false flag operation involving Ukrainian drones.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
