Poland and Baltic states are preparing for possible Russian false-flag strike, says Reuters

Reuters has learned that Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are cooperating to shield their infrastructure from potential Russian attacks that could be staged as "false-flag" operations, as allied intelligence services have repeatedly warned.

Source: Reuters, citing intelligence officials from these countries, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The countries are strengthening security around dams, power stations and gas infrastructure amid concerns that Moscow could stage a "false-flag" attack using captured Ukrainian drones.

Last week, Lithuanian intelligence said Moscow was considering such a staged attack. Poland, Latvia and Estonia have also warned of possible Russian sabotage operations aimed at testing NATO's response as questions grow over the US commitment to the Alliance.

"We are not naive, we see the information, we read between the lines and we are doing our homework," Lithuania's Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas told Reuters.

"We are increasing the security of our critical infrastructure, we constantly exchange information with our intelligence on what to do next," he added.

Last month, Lithuania deployed troops to help riot police protect critical energy infrastructure: its liquefied natural gas import terminal, oil products terminal, a key power link with Poland and the Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant.

"We are clearly signalling that, if needed, we will be defending ourselves," Kaunas said.

Latvia has stepped up security around all critical infrastructure, including the dam on the Daugava River near Riga and the Inčukalns underground gas storage facility, Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs told Reuters.

"A potential hybrid threat is more likely than it was before," he said.

Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, the state-owned company responsible for building Poland's first nuclear power plant, said forged documents purporting to be official company records have emerged in an apparent attempt to mislead stakeholders. The company said they originated somewhere "east of Poland".

Marcin Skolimowski, spokesperson for Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, said the company is investigating the matter in cooperation with the special services and law enforcement agencies and is also monitoring the planned construction site for signs of sabotage or other threats.

In July, Poland's power grid operator and a unit of the armed forces began stepping up security around the electricity interconnector with Ukraine, which helps stabilise Ukraine's energy system amid sustained Russian attacks.

"This is an area where heightened vigilance is required, so we are ​using all available resources," the grid operator's spokesperson Maciej Wapiński told Reuters.

The company expects that the military will help ensure the security of its critical infrastructure in other eastern regions of the country.

Background:

• In May, Moscow accused the Baltic states of planning to allow Ukrainian drones to attack Russia from their territory and promised to take retaliatory measures. This raised concerns that Russia could stage such an attack in order to justify its actions against these countries.
• Leaders of NATO's eastern flank countries have recently issued public warnings, citing intelligence indicating that Russia is preparing provocations on their territory.
• Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski had earlier suggested that Russia could organise a false-flag operation using Ukrainian-made drones.
• Media reports indicated earlier that the US had passed on a warning to Warsaw that Moscow is considering an armed provocation against Poland in order to "test NATO's resolve".

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