Lithuania's new PM, ministerial cabinet visit Kyiv
Lithuania's new ministerial cabinet arrived in Kyiv on Dec. 20, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said mere hours after Russia's missile attack against the capital.
Baltics
Latvia announces surprise combat readiness check of its military
While the Latvian Defense Ministry said that the drills are "not related to changes in the security environment," the exercises take place amid surging tensions between NATO and Russia.
Deputy defense minister outlines military, financial plans for 2025 with Baltic, Nordic Allies
Defense Minister Serhii Boiev held talks with representatives of the foreign ministries of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden to outline plans for military and financial assistance to Ukraine in 2025, the Defense Ministry reported on its website on Nov. 14.
EU to allocate 170 million euros to six countries bordering Russia and Belarus
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced 170 million euros ($178 million) in financial support for six European countries bordering Russia and Belarus to bolster their border protection efforts.
Estonian PM arrives in Kyiv to meet Zelensky
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the PM said in a post on X on Dec. 9.
Baltic, Nordic countries and Poland to step up support to Ukraine 'in coming months'
"In the coming months, we will step up our support, including to the Ukrainian defense industry, and we will invest in making more ammunition available to Ukraine," the joint statement read.
Estonia wants to bar Russian, Belarusian citizens from voting in local elections
Estonia aims to narrow voting eligibility in local elections to exclude Russian and Belarusian citizens in order to counter Russian influence, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told state broadcaster ERR on Nov. 4.
Poland starts fortifying border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave as part of 'East Shield' initiative
The "East Shield" program aims to fortify Poland's borders with Belarus, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
As the Baltics raise the alarm about Russia, Washington still not listening
For Zygimantas Pavilionis, a member of the Lithuanian parliament, history is repeating itself: The Kremlin’s military sights are set on Europe beyond Ukraine and the U.S. is not listening to warnings from the Baltics. “In Europe, they listen to the Baltics, but in America, they are so arrogant
Why the Baltic States fear Russia's Kaliningrad exclave
Lithuania announced this week it had blocked and fortified a bridge over the Nieman River linking it to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, the latest in a series of escalations in the Baltic Sea region. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine exacerbated fears of a potential open conflict between Moscow and
Lithuania blocks and fortifies bridge to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave
Lithuania's Defense Minsiter Laurynas said other bridges leading to Kaliningrad would also be fortified, and some may even be mined.
Lithuania confiscates military goods from Kaliningrad-Moscow trains, gives them to Ukraine
Lithuanian customs officers discovered military uniforms and camouflage nets on passenger trains traveling from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to Moscow, the Delfi outlet reported on Oct. 5.
Estonia's planned 'war tax' unprecedented, defense minister says
Speaking at a panel discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum attended by the Kyiv Independent, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur explained that "everybody in the society will contribute a bit more."
Estonian President on Russia's threats of escalation
In an exclusive interview, Estonian President Alar Karis emphasizes his country’s support for Ukraine, advocating for the removal of restrictions on Western-provided long-range weapons so Ukraine can strike Russian territory.
Lithuania signs memorandum with one of world's leading arms manufacturers on medium-caliber ammunition
Lithuania has signed a memorandum with American Northrop Grumman Corporation, one of the leading global aerospace and defense technology companies, to produce and supply medium-caliber ammunition, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Sept. 23.
NATO jets intercept six Russian aircraft flying over Baltic Sea
NATO jets intercepted six Russian aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea without transponders or a flight plan over the past two days, the Latvian Air Force reported late on Sept. 21.
Latvia to supply Ukraine with British-made CVR(T) armored vehicles
Latvia will provide Ukraine with an unspecified number of CVR(T) armored vehicles previously purchased from the U.K., the Delfi outlet reported on Sept. 15, citing the Latvian Defense Ministry.
Estonian president arrives in Kyiv
"Arrived in the great city of Kyiv. Looking forward to all the meetings & discussions," Estonian President Alar Karis said on X.
Estonia launches new program for Ukrainian refugees
Estonia launched the "ROSE Estonia" project to help Ukrainian refugees in the country with their goals in self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Latvia summons Russian charge d'affaires over drone crash
The charge d'affaires "was requested to provide a comprehensive explanation of the incident, in which an unmanned aerial vehicle illegally violated Latvia's airspace while also carrying explosives," the Latvian Foreign Ministry said.
Latvia confirms Russian Shahed drone armed with explosive crashed on its territory
A Russian Shahed-type drone equipped with an explosive crashed in Latvia on Sept. 7, Latvia's Defense Ministry confirmed during a press conference on Sept. 9.
Lithuanian FM: West 'chose to be caught off guard' by Russia's invasion
Sitting on NATO's eastern frontier, Lithuania has been punching above its weight when it comes to aiding Ukraine. Ranked among the top military donors in terms of GDP per capita, the country of 2.8 million has provided Ukraine with helicopters, drones, armored vehicles, and air defenses, not to mention
Military aid package from Lithuania arrives in Ukraine
On August 28, Lithuania delivered loaders, anti-drone systems, and folding beds to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package.
Nordic, Baltic countries express concern to EU over Hungary's easing of entry rules for Russians
Hungary's decision to ease entry rules for Russians "may constitute a serious security risk," leaders of Nordic and Baltic countries said in a joint letter to European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson on Aug. 16.
Estonia beefs up checks at Russian border to tighten sanctions
The new measures are designed to prevent sanctioned goods from entering Russia, the ERR public broadcaster reported.
Estonia charges citizen who wrote for Russian state media with treason
Svetlana Burceva was arrested in March after it was revealed that she wrote for the Russian state sponsored Balt News —an arm of the Kremlin-run RT news outlet.
NATO jets scrambled after Russian Su-30s detected near Latvian airspace
The German and Swedish air forces scrambled NATO jets on Aug. 3 after two Russian jets were detected heading toward Latvian airspace over the Baltic Sea.
Lithuania preparing evacuation plans in case of war
Lithuanian authorities are drawing up plans for mass evacuations of civilians in case of armed conflict, the LRT public broadcaster reported on July 25, citing the country's Interior Ministry.
Kyiv uncovers suspected Russian agent network planning sabotage in Ukraine, Europe
The perpetrators intended to target shopping centers, gas stations, pharmacies, and markets in Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic countries on the instruction of Russian intelligence services, according to the SBU.
Baltic states to complete decoupling from Russian-controlled power grid by early 2025
Lithuanian operator Litgrid, Latvian AST, and Estonian Elering informed the Russian and Belarusian operators that they would not extend the BRELL agreement, which expires in February 2025, LRT said.
From Estonian university professor to convicted Russian spy: the curious case of Viacheslav Morozov
Editor’s Note: Kyiv Independent News Editor Nate Ostiller briefly attended a summer program at the same Estonian university where the main character of this report was a professor and received a passing grade in a one-week summer school course. A university professor is not the first profession that comes
Lithuania issues protest, summons representatives after Russian aircraft enters airspace
Lithuania has submitted a diplomatic protest and has summoned diplomatic representatives from Russia's embassy in Vilnius after a Russian civilian aircraft entered the country's airspace without permission, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said on July 2.
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