Lithuania protests to Russia over Ukraine attacks and disinformation

Lithuania has formally protested to Russia regarding recent attacks on Ukrainian civilians and what Vilnius describes as a continuing disinformation campaign against the Baltic states. The protest note was delivered to a representative of the Russian Embassy in Lithuania.

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deliberate terror against civilians and infrastructure is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and is considered a war crime, for which there is no statute of limitations.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the note underscores that "deliberate terror against civilians and infrastructure is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and is considered a war crime, for which there is no statute of limitations." Lithuania reiterated its commitment to identifying and holding accountable all perpetrators of crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

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Lithuania will continue to seek that the instigators, organizers, and perpetrators of all crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine are identified, named, and held accountable.

This diplomatic action follows a significant Russian attack on Ukraine overnight July 6-7, which involved 68 missiles and hundreds of drones. At least 27 civilians were killed and approximately 100 were injured in that assault, causing extensive damage to residential buildings, commercial properties, and energy infrastructure, particularly in Kyiv and its surrounding regions. Kyiv was targeted again by Russian forces on the night of July 7-8.

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The Republic of Lithuania has never allowed its territory and airspace to be used for drone attacks against targets in Russia and has repeatedly informed the Russian Federation about this through diplomatic channels and public statements.

Furthermore, the protest note addressed repeated false statements by Russian officials. Lithuania explicitly denied claims made by Russian Foreign Ministry officials suggesting plans for the mass deportation of Russian-speaking residents from the Baltic states. The ministry asserted that such plans have never existed and are entirely false. These Russian assertions were previously dismissed by Lithuania's State Security Department and propaganda expert Nerijus Maliukevičius as typical Kremlin propaganda. The Russian Foreign Ministry had also announced intentions to approach the International Court of Justice regarding alleged "systematic violation of the rights of ethnic Russians" in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, accusing Baltic governments of prohibiting the Russian language, rewriting history, and pursuing repressive policies.

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insinuations spread by representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding the alleged planned mass deportation of Russian-speaking residents by the Baltic states are a complete lie – no such plans existed and do not exist.