Lithuania warns Russia has ability to launch Baltic attack with as little as 24 hours' notice 

  • Lithuania has warned NATO needs to increase the size of its forces in the region
  • Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis today released an intelligence report
  • Miltary planners fear Russia could launch an attack with a single day's notice
  • Russian military forces have been building up in the Kaliningrad region 

By REUTERS and DARREN BOYLE, DATA JOURNALIST

Published: | Updated:

Lithuania has warned NATO that Russia has the capability to attack the Baltic states with as little as 24 hours' notice according to intelligence sources. 

Such a sneak attack would force NATO to respond with just the small number of military assets in place, the Lithuanian intelligence service claimed.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, annexed by the Soviet Union in the 1940s but now part of both NATO and the European Union, have been increasingly nervous since the Russian takeover of Crimea in 2014.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis warned that the Russian military could launch a strike on the Baltic states with only 24 hour's notice as a result of a military build-up

Lithuanian Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis warned that the Russian military could launch a strike on the Baltic states with only 24 hour's notice as a result of a military build-up

NATO has deployed troops and aircraft to the region, but Lithuania believes the numbers are not sufficient to deter possible Russian aggression in the medium term

NATO has deployed troops and aircraft to the region, but Lithuania believes the numbers are not sufficient to deter possible Russian aggression in the medium term

The Lithuanian intelligence service said in its annual threat assessment that Russia had upgraded its military in the Kaliningrad region last year, reducing lead times for any attack and potentially preventing NATO reinforcements.

The Russian upgrade included Su-30 fighter aircraft and missile systems allowing ships to be targeted almost anywhere in the Baltic Sea.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis said: 'This is a signal to NATO to improve its decision speed. NATO's reaction time is not as fast as we would like it to be.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the concerns as a display of anti-Russian sentiment.

He replied: 'There is total Russophobia, hysterical Russophobia going on. Moscow has always supported good relations with the Baltic states.' 

Lithuania, which borders the Russian military enclave of Kaliningrad has reported a massive buildup of troops and aircraft in the region leading to fears about a possible sneak attack

Lithuania, which borders the Russian military enclave of Kaliningrad has reported a massive buildup of troops and aircraft in the region leading to fears about a possible sneak attack

The Russian military has seen a major build-up of forces in the Kaliningrad region 

The Russian military has seen a major build-up of forces in the Kaliningrad region 

US troops, such as these from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are regularly sent to the Baltic region to conduct military exercises with other NATO troops to prepare to defend a possible attack

US troops, such as these from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are regularly sent to the Baltic region to conduct military exercises with other NATO troops to prepare to defend a possible attack

This year NATO is deploying a force of about 1,000 soldiers in each of the Baltic states and Poland, in addition to smaller contingents of U.S. troops already in the region.

Karoblis continued: 'The force is adequate in the short-term, but in the medium-term perspective we would like more capability, and not only land troops but also air defences and capabilities to counter any blockade.'

Russia is monitoring and suppressing radio frequencies used by NATO pilots over the Baltic Sea and is using commercial and scientific ships for surveillance, the report said.

The intelligence service said there was also the risk of 'deliberate or accidental incidents' involving Russian and Belarusian troops who are taking part in military exercises planned for March.

The Baltic states have previously said they would press the United States and NATO to take additional security measures in the region ahead of the exercises.

Intelligence officers said disinformation aimed at discrediting NATO soldiers stationed in Lithuania, such as a recent false report of a rape by German soldiers, was likely to persist.

Head of Lithuanian military counter intelligence Remigijus Baltrenas added: 'Provocations against NATO units in Lithuania will continue and will get bigger.'

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