Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have each summoned Russian diplomatic representatives, accusing Moscow of fabricating claims that the Baltic states are preparing mass deportations of Russian speakers and allowing Ukraine to use their airspace for attacks on Russia. The coordinated diplomatic démarches come as Russia intensifies its missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
In statements to European Pulse, the governments of Estonia and Lithuania said the allegations, made by Russian Foreign Ministry official Grigori Lukyantsev, are part of a Kremlin strategy to portray Russia as a victim while deflecting scrutiny from its own conduct in Ukraine. “Russia is desperately seeking to divert attention from its aggression against Ukraine, as well as to portray itself as a victim and thereby absolve itself of responsibility for crimes committed,” Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry said.
Estonia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Susan Lilleväli accused Moscow of trying to distract from “Russia's own serious violations of international law, including the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children.” The Baltic states have been vocal critics of Russia’s war, and this latest diplomatic row underscores the deepening tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.
Kremlin Narratives and Baltic Responses
Lukyantsev’s allegations followed the presentation of a joint human rights report by the Belarusian and Russian foreign ministries, which accused the Baltic countries of fostering “Nazism” and “Russophobia.” The report also criticized Latvia’s amended Immigration Law, which requires Russian citizens to apply for EU long-term resident status, demonstrate A2-level Latvian language skills, and pass security and background checks. The measures affected approximately 30,000 people, the majority of whom complied with the new requirements.
Lithuania dismissed the deportation claims as “entirely false,” while Latvia emphasized that everyone in the country is protected by the rule of law regardless of ethnicity. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said his country is “a democratic state governed by the rule of law” and that suggestions otherwise amount to “nothing more than unfounded Russian propaganda.”
The allegations echo longstanding Kremlin narratives about the Baltic states. Lithuania’s intelligence services, in their 2026 Threat Assessment, note that Russia “consistently” accuses Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia of persecuting Russian speakers, glorifying Nazi collaborators, and rewriting World War II history. The report says Russia’s Foreign Ministry plays a central role in amplifying these claims through diplomatic channels and international organizations to justify Moscow’s foreign policy and increase pressure on the Baltic states.
Airspace Accusations and Escalating Attacks
The diplomatic démarches were also triggered by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin’s claims that the Baltic states had provided air corridors for Ukrainian drones attacking Russian civilian infrastructure. Galuzin’s statements followed Ukraine’s successful strikes on oil infrastructure in Russia. Latvia’s foreign ministry called the claims “blatantly false” and demanded that Russia “immediately retract this false information.” Lithuania and Estonia likewise said they had never allowed their territory or airspace to be used for drone strikes inside Russia.
The diplomatic row unfolded as Russia launched another wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. In their notes to Moscow, the three Baltic countries condemned the strikes, citing recent attacks on Kyiv and elsewhere that killed dozens of civilians and injured hundreds more. Lithuania said the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law and amounts to war crimes. It said it would continue efforts to hold those responsible for crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to account.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Russian disinformation targeting EU member states. Earlier this year, Italy expelled two Russian diplomats over espionage, and Poland sentenced a former Russian opposition activist and his wife for espionage. The Baltic states’ coordinated response reflects a growing determination among EU nations to push back against what they see as a concerted campaign of hybrid warfare from Moscow.
