SerpApi.Org
Vladimir Putin is allegedly considering four additional targets as he fights to achieve success in Ukraine. Lithuania's Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas stated the Russian leader could shift his focus to the Baltic nations - Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia - along with Poland.
He suggested that doubts surrounding the outcome of the four-year Ukraine conflict have prompted Russian citizens to challenge their government, leaving Putin desperately seeking a triumph. Kaunas told LRT: "Since the war in Ukraine is not unfolding as Russia planned, they are unable to win, and today explosions are echoing within Russia itself, there are fuel shortages."
"Russian society is already questioning the Kremlin regime about why this is happening and where the promised victory is," reports Daily Express UK.
- Kyiv vows to step up attacks as Russian strikes leave 100,000 without power
- Ukraine destroys several Russian shadow fleet vessels as it changes tactics
"The Kremlin, Putin, needs a new escalation, some kind of new win, and the Baltic region and Poland are the nearest targets in this case."
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausda stated that Russia is preparing to escalate tensions in Poland or the Baltic region to challenge NATO.
The Kremlin recently dismissed these assertions, calling them "the latest batch of scare stories designed to continue brainwashing the population and preparing it for further militarization."
Nevertheless, Nausda told BNS that intelligence information suggests apprehensions about potential strikes on vital infrastructure utilizing conventional military or hybrid methods.
In response, the nation has enhanced security measures around vital transport and energy infrastructure, including bridges, power substations, gas distribution networks, and telecommunications centers.
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Preparations are also underway to address a possible Russian assault, according to LRT reports.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski additionally raised concerns that Russia might orchestrate a false flag operation involving Ukrainian drones. The nation recently had to deploy fighter jets to intercept a Russian Il-20 aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
The Russian plane was operating without a filed flight plan and had its transponder switched off. The aircraft was conducting a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, according to the Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces.
The on-duty pair of Air Force fighters successfully intercepted, visually identified, and escorted the aircraft away from the area of responsibility.
