Lithuania deployed army to protect border with Kaliningrad region
The decision was made after an incident on the Latvian-Belarusian border, when armed masked men forcibly drove migrants from Belarus into Latvia, and amidst signals about possible mobilization in Russia.
Illustrative photo. Photo: Omar Marques / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Lithuanian Interior Minister Martynas Kacelinas announced the army's involvement, LRT reports. According to him, people who do not want to fall under possible mobilization in Russia may try to cross the border illegally.
The incident on the Latvian-Belarusian border also became a reason for strengthening security. According to the Latvian National Armed Forces, a group of at least 20 migrants attempted to cross the border illegally. They were accompanied by armed masked men.
They threatened Latvian soldiers, urged migrants to move towards Latvia, and pushed them to the border.
A few hours later, the masked men infiltrated Latvian territory. They damaged an electrical distribution board and stole CCTV cameras. Before the border patrol arrived, the perpetrators returned to Belarus.
Kacelinas called the deployment of troops a preventive measure that should help prevent similar incidents.