Latvia and Lithuania reinforced their security in response to the growing threat of Russian attacks

The Government of Latvia has decided to strengthen security measures at several strategic facilities in the country after receiving intelligence information pointing to the possibility that Russia is preparing operations against critical infrastructure in the Baltic region. The decision comes amid rising tensions between Moscow and NATO member countries, as the war in Ukraine continues.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs confirmed in an interview that authorities have increased surveillance at facilities deemed essential for national security. Among them is the large underground gas storage facility in Incukalns, one of the country's main energy reserves, as well as a hydroelectric power station located upstream from the capital, Riga.

According to Kulbergs, the government believes that the security situation has deteriorated due to the evolution of the conflict in Ukraine. In his view, the military difficulties faced by Russia on the front could increase the risk of the Kremlin resorting to hybrid or sabotage actions against neighboring countries as a way to achieve quick victories outside the battlefield.

The leader noted that, in this scenario, no possibility can be ruled out and that authorities are acting cautiously to protect facilities whose disruption could severely affect energy supply and other essential services in the country.

The measures adopted by Latvia come just days after leaders from the Baltic countries and Poland publicly warned that various Western intelligence agencies have detected signs of possible Russian plans to attack critical infrastructure in the region.

Although specific details remain classified, authorities believe that threats could materialize through sabotage operations, selective attacks, or hybrid actions aimed at generating instability without triggering a conventional military confrontation with NATO.

In light of this situation, Kulbergs revealed that he held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, to whom he requested an increase in defensive capabilities deployed in the Baltic. Among the requests made are the deployment of more air defense systems and a greater number of allied troops to strengthen the eastern flank of the alliance.

Kulbergs took office as Prime Minister last month following the fall of the previous government. His predecessor, Evika Silina, resigned on May 14 amid strong criticism for the authorities' inability to prevent several drones from the conflict in Ukraine from entering Latvian airspace.

According to Kyiv, those devices were deliberately diverted by Russian electronic warfare systems, altering their original trajectory and causing them to accidentally enter the territory of neighboring countries.

Concerns have also increased in Lithuania, which this week announced a similar reinforcement of security around facilities related to transportation and energy.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda confirmed that his country has intelligence information pointing to the preparation of possible kinetic operations directed against critical infrastructure. Although he clarified that there is no precise data on the targets or the date of a potential attack, he stated that authorities consider the warnings credible enough to take preventive measures.

Nauseda indicated that the threats do not point to a large-scale invasion, but to limited and carefully selected attacks against strategic facilities whose disruption could have significant economic and security consequences.

For his part, Latvian President Edgards Rinkevics stated during a press conference held in Vilnius alongside Nauseda that the information shared among the intelligence services of various NATO members shows that attempts at sabotage linked to Russia have already been detected.

Although he did not specify which countries may have been the target of these actions, he stated that various allied agencies have documented activities aimed at undermining regional security and testing the response capacity of the Baltic States.

Moscow rejected the accusations

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the warnings issued by the Baltic governments as a new ''alarmism'' campaign aimed, he claimed, at preparing public opinion for greater militarization of Eastern Europe.

Peskov argued that Lithuania, Latvia, and the other Baltic countries are using the Russian threat to justify the deployment of more troops, weaponry, and NATO military infrastructure in the region.

According to the Russian spokesman, building the image of Russia as an enemy constitutes a political strategy that allows strengthening the presence of the Atlantic alliance near Russian borders.

While both sides maintain opposing positions, the Baltic governments continue to reinforce the protection of their strategic facilities and tighten coordination with NATO, convinced that the current security context requires raising the level of preparedness against possible hybrid threats or acts of sabotage.