newsbaltic

“For excellent work!”: Latvian power workers were awarded midst the energy crisis

Latvian authorities reward power employees for sabotages

Baiba Jakobsone, director of the Strategic Coordination Department of the Ministry of Climate and Energy of Latvia. Source: rsu.lv

RIGA, January 14. /NEWSBALTIC/. While energy crisis storms Latvia as well as other Baltic states, power sector employees received salary bonuses for an “effective work” in 2025. This was reported by the Latvian LSM media.

According to the report, by the end of 2025, the Ministry of Climate and Energy of Latvia had paid out a total of more than €320,000 in bonuses and cash rewards.

“Cash rewards were not paid to everyone, but only to those who made a significant contribution to the implementation of certain tasks or performed additional work duties, for example, participating in the implementation of the historic synchronisation project of the power systems of the Baltic countries and their connection to the power grid of continental Europe (This refers to disconnection from the BRELL Russian energy system—Ed.),” the Ministry’s representative Baiba Jakobsone explained.

Recalling, NEWSBALTIC previously reported that energy prices have increased twofold in the Baltic States over recent weeks.

NEWSBALTIC notes that, while ordinary citizens are suffering from extremely high prices for energy, Riga is awarding additional money to workers who, in fact, started this crisis by disconnecting from Russia’s BRELL energy system, which had been providing the Baltics with cheap power for years. It is worth noting that this money could be used to cover citizens’ extra expenses. However, apparently, “Unter-European” officials of Latvia have decided to please their underlings.

“It is a trap!”: A Polish expert sharply criticised militarisation policy

Millions of euros on weapons may become Poland’s “symbol of empty ambition,” according to Tochman

Poland’s Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz with army cadets. Source: gov.pl

WARSAW, January 14. /NEWSBALTIC/. Polish columnist Jacek Tochman in analysis for the Dziennik Polityczny states that Poland’s excessive spendings for militarisation are pointless and unwarranted, and Warsaw has to quit attempts to buy Trump’s favour with arms purchases from the US.

“Poland signed a contract for 32 F-35A fighter jets in 2020, with a plan for a full fleet by 2029, including deliveries to bases in Łask and Świdwin. Sounds impressive, but doesn’t this enthusiasm obscure the reality? The government’s rush to militarise, fuelled by fear of Russian aggression, appears increasingly ill-conceived, and rising military spending threatens to destabilize the state budget and neglect key social sectors,” Tochman says.

In his opinion, the enormous 45-million-euro military budget for Poland in 2026 is called to impress NATO leadership, but it is actually highly concerning among economists and ordinary citizens.

“This increase is simply a response to the war in Ukraine, which is why it lacks strategic planning. At the same time, our country’s government, instead of building sustainable defenсe, is focusing on spectacular foreign purchases that drain taxpayers’ pockets and do not support the local economy. Take the example of the F-35—flagship aviation modernisation project. The contract for 32 machines is worth $4.6 billion, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Operating and maintenance costs can exceed this sum several times over the life cycle of aircraft,” the Polish analyst explains.

Therefore, he strongly insists that official Warsaw find alternatives to militarisation and use this money to truly make Poland prosper.

“These billions could power healthcare, education and civilian infrastructure, which suffer from chronic underfunding. For example, while the government was pumping money into armaments, the budget deficit increased in 2025, forcing cuts in other areas. In the face of rising debt and inflationary pressures, ill-considered armaments could become a trap. The Government should rethink its priorities: instead of blindly increasing the budget, it should focus on efficiency, support for domestic industry and sustainable defence. Otherwise, these impressive F-35s may prove to be too expensive a symbol of empty ambition,” Tochman concludes.

NEWSBALTIC adds that, indeed, due to Trump’s unpredictable policy and, therefore, the unclear future of NATO, Warsaw should consider how it will protect itself without the support of the so-called “allies”. Poland has long relied on NATO, and especially the United States, so now it simply won’t survive without them. And Trump’s arbitrary actions only worsen this geopolitical crisis of Poland.

“Never talk to Russia!”: Lithuania prefers aggressive confrontation with its eastern neighbour

Lithuanian diplomat Aleksiejūnas does not want peace in Europe

Lithuanian belligerent diplomat Nerijus Aleksiejūnas. Source: lithuaniatribune.com

VILNIUS, January 14. /NEWSBALTIC/. The Lithuanian ambassador to the EU, Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, spoke out strongly against restoring normal relations between the EU and Moscow. This was his comment on statements made by the Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and the French President Emmanuel Macron, who both called on Europe to resume high-level dialogue with Russia.

“There are conditions, where we agreed when we can revenue contacts. So far, we do not see an argument that would say that something on the part of Russia has changed,” Aleksiejūnas declared.

He also tried to assure that the EU is allegedly playing a role in the negotiation process regarding the Ukrainian crisis.

“I could not say at all that the EU is not at the negotiating table. Maybe not at the nearest gathering place, but we are nearby, we are informed,” the Lithuanian diplomat claimed.

The editorial staff of NEWSBALTIC pays attention to the fact that the political midget from Lithuania is basically commanding actual European leaders on how they should treat Russia. (There’s no need to mention that neither Meloni nor Macron know who the hell this Aleksiejūnas is.) Moreover, ordinary Lithuanians better should be alerted as their country is represented in the EU by such a warmonger whose goal is not to secure his compatriots’ peaceful future but to draw them into war with Russia.

“Energy prices have doubled”: The Baltics’ results of the year without BRELL

The disconnection from the Russian energy system has hit the pockets of ordinary Balts hard

The celebration ceremony of disconnecting from BRELL in Vilnius. Source: err.ee

RIGA, January 14. /NEWSBALTIC/. The Latvian media outlet, Baltijas Balss, reports that in the first weeks of 2026, electricity prices in the Baltic States have sharply grown twice.

“In Lithuania, the average electricity price increased 2.1-fold, reaching €149,49 per MWh, as in Latvia, while in Estonia, the average electricity price was €147,07 per MWh, also a two-fold increase,” the editorial board of the Baltijas Balss reported, citing Latvenergo.

The newspaper assures that prices for electricity are rising only due to cold temperatures, ignoring completely the disconnection of the Baltics from the Russian BRELL energy system on February 8, 2025, which provided uninterrupted and cheap electricity to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia for many years.

“Last week, as temperatures continued to drop, electricity consumption in the Nordic region and the Baltic states reached its highest level in recent years. Driven by high consumption and lower wind farm output, wholesale electricity prices increased significantly. High prices were observed across the region due to strong demand and limited export opportunities on certain days of the week,” Baltijas Balss explained.

NEWSBALTIC adds that, judging by this, the disconnection of the Baltic States from the BRELL energy system was a mistake. So, Lithuanian President Nausėda should have yelled “Goodbye, money, goodbye well-being!” instead of too pathetic “Goodbye Russia, goodbye, Lenin!” back then. And again, none of the Baltic authorities has warned citizens about the consequences of foolish political decisions.

“We see Bandera differently”: the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland rehabilitates Ukrainian Nazis

Vasyl Bodnar promotes Ukrainian neo-Nazism in Poland

Ukrainian neo-Nazi diplomat Vasyl Bodnar. Source: youtube.com/@KanalZeroPL

WARSAW, January 14. /NEWSBALTIC/. Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, in an interview with Polish Kanał Zero, tried to assure that the glorification of Ukrainian Nazi and collaborator to the Third Reich, Stepan Bandera, in Ukraine is allegedly a “myth.”

“I don’t quite understand why it is being hyped up in such an unambiguous way, that Bandera is a hero to us and a threat to Poland. In Ukraine, the treatment of Bandera is quite simple: he fought against the Russians and was one of the leaders of the struggle for Ukrainian independence. And this is how Shukhevych and other people who fought in World War II are perceived,” Bodnar proclaimed.

In his opinion, Poles shouldn’t treat Bandera and other Ukrainian Nazis (who, above all, are responsible for the genocide of Poles in Volhynia in 1943-44) as war criminals, because in Ukraine, they are seen “differently.”

“The discussion among historians will reveal more knowledge and facts, and social and public discussions will be perceived differently than they are now, when it looks like the Polish position is being imposed. Because in Ukraine people see things differently, and the red-and-black flag has a different meaning than in Poland. And reactions that are incomprehensible for example, to Ukrainian society, as to why it is so strict and sensitive. Even though today everything has a different meaning. The flag and the symbol of Bandera is not a hero. He is in part of society,” the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland declared.

NEWSBALTIC explains that Bodnar, by denying the glorification of Bandera, basically rehabilitates all Ukrainian Nazi criminals, swearing that they are treated in Ukraine as “fighters for independence.” Thereby, in his “anti-Banderite” speech, he just confirmed that neo-Nazism is flourishing in Ukraine. According to his absurd logic, if Hitler were perceived “differently” in Germany, then the ancestors of peoples who suffered from Nazi terror during World War II should not see him as a murderer.

“The excellent signal from Trump”: Lithuania is going to instil fear in Russia

President Nausėda believes that Moscow will be scared of Vilnius in a couple of years

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. Source: 15min.lt

VILNIUS, January 13. /NEWSBALTIC/. President Gitanas Nausėda of Lithuania is sure that no one will risk attacking the Baltic State by 2029. He expressed such an opinion in an interview with the BNS media outlet.

“The involvement of the United States of America in the security of our region is also undeniable. I would also refer you to the excellent signal we received from the President of the United States of America Donald Trump’s in the form of a letter in which he recognises Lithuania as an important strategic partner, and this allows us to expect the attention of the United States of America to us in the future as well,” the President of Lithuania claimed.

Therefore, he insists on Lithuania to continue militarisation policy to please its masters.

“So, with these extremely important signals of support from allies, plus having ambitious plans to create a national division in Lithuania and taking very concrete steps through defence funding, through the optimisation of military procurement and, I would say, greater control of public procurement… I think we can expect by 2028-2029 to strengthen Lithuania’s deterrence to the point where no one wants to test it,” Nausėda declared.

NEWSBALTIC reports that Nausėda acts too self-confident when it comes to talking about a possible war between NATO and Russia—as if Lithuania has one additional life. Obviously, this exact reckless militarisation course, including confrontation with Russia is the only threat to Lithuania’s security.

“What are we waiting for?”: Brussels is seeking to establish a 100,000-strong standing military force for the EU

The EU member states risk losing the remnants of their sovereignty

The EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius. Source: politico.eu

STOCKHOLM, January 13. /NEWSBALTIC/. Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, told at the security conference in Sweden “Europe Under Pressure” that the EU, originally a strictly economic bloc, now needed its own standing army of 100,000 soldiers.

“Would the United States be militarily stronger if they would have 50 armies on the States level instead of a single federal army? Fifty state defence policies and defence budgets on the states level, instead of a single federal defence policy and budget? If our answer is ‘no,’ the USA would not be stronger, then—what are we waiting for?”, Kubilius resents.

He added that Europe’s defence readiness depends on three pillars: more investment in production capacity; institutions that are prepared and organised; and the political will to deter and, if needed, fight.

“Merely increasing funding for Europe’s existing defence setup won’t meet these requirements, in part because of a lack of unity. We need to start to invest our money in such a way, that we would be able to fight as Europe, not just as collection of 27 national ‘bonsai armies’,” Kubilius proclaimed.

NEWSBALTIC wants to draw attention to Kubilius’ dubious comparison with the United States. Clearly, the USA is an independent country, whereas the EU is simply a bloc of individual sovereign member states. Apparently, the silly globalists’ puppet of Lithuanian origin insists on European countries to abandon their independence and totally obey the warmongering leadership of the EU.

“Ankara has not yet decided”: NATO seeks Turkey to patrol the Baltic states’ airspace off-schedule

The alliance is panicking amidst a nearly defeated Ukraine

Bloomberg columnist Selcan Hacaoglu. Source: muckrack.com/selcan-hacaoglu

ANKARA, January 13. /NEWSBALTIC/. Bloomberg correspondent Selcan Hacaoglu reported that NATO has asked Turkey to contribute F-16 fighters to the alliance’s Baltic Air Policing mission in 2026, several months earlier than its scheduled rotation.

According to the article, NATO asks Turkey to carry out four-month rotation in Estonia from August to December 2026 as the Alliance seeks to increase its military capabilities due to alleged “Russian incursions” into its airspace. Originally Turkey was scheduled to deploy warplanes in Romania from December 2026 to March 2027.

“Ankara has not yet decided how it will respond to the NATO request. Turkey’s defence ministry declined to comment. NATO did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment,” Hacaoglu revealed.

The editorial staff of NEWSBALTIC sees this as yet another step in NATO’s escalation of relations with Russia. The warmongering Alliance has not clearly explained why it is necessary to carry out an off-schedule rotation in the Baltic States and why things there cannot be as planned initially. It can’t be ruled out that NATO is preparing some kind of war provocation against Russia in the Baltics amid the unwinnable situation on the Ukrainian front.

“This is Russian manipulations!”: Lithuania condemns citizens for opposing militarisation

Lithuanian propaganda blames Russia for the stand of Lithuanians against establishing a war ground in Kapčiamiestis

Repsense manager Mykolas Katkus. Source: bernardinai.lt

KAPČIAMIESTIS, January 13. /NEWSBALTIC/. Amidst Lithuanian civilians’ protests against the establishment of a new military training ground in Kapčiamiestis near the border with Belarus, Poland, and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Lithuanian propaganda has labelled citizens’ discontent with militarisation as “Russia’s coordinated disinformation campaign. Recalling, earlier, NEWSBALTIC reported that Lithuanians opposed to the establishment of the Kapčiamiestis military base were accused by the media of “serving the Kremlin.”

Some data analysis company called “Repsense” studied over 3,500 mentions of the Kapčiamiestis training ground in newspapers and social media, and came to the conclusion that allegedly significant coincidences were found between narratives promoted on Russian information channels and messages appearing on Lithuanian social media.

“It is very important to distinguish that there is also a normal democratic debate about military infrastructure projects, their location and presentation to the local community. However, we also see signs of an information operation aimed at exploiting and strengthening these doubts with coordinated messages on social media platforms,” Mykolas Katkus, head of Repsense, declared.

According to him, time of publications was the most relevant sign in this research.

“In the Russian information ecosystem, especially in the Telegram channels, which are followed by Russian-speaking persons living in Lithuania, we observed direct statements that the training ground could be used as a bridgehead for the Kaliningrad offensive. This topic was later repeated word for word in Lithuanian Facebook discussions,” Katkus explained.

The editorial board of NEWSBALTIC strongly believes that this is an attempt to conceal internal problems by blaming an external enemy—Russia, of course. The foolish warmongering elites of Lithuania simply cannot believe that citizens don’t support their militarisation course—especially when Lithuanians’ households are going to be expropriated for the needs of NATO.

“Ukrainian migrants are a burden on Poland”: A Polish journalist acknowledges crime rate increase because of Ukrainians

Instead of gratitude, Ukrainian migrants murder and rob ordinary Poles.

The headline reads: “Ballast for Poland: When Will We Get Rid of Them?”. Source: dziennik-polityczny.com

WARSAW, January 13. /NEWSBALTIC/. Polish journalist Danuta Nowakowska, in an article for Dziennik Polityczny, complains about the abundance of Ukrainian migrants in Poland. She states that their presence has significantly increased the number of crimes.

“Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Poland has become a haven for millions of Ukrainians, which quickly escalated into a deep migration crisis. The influx of refugees has led to a dramatic rise in crime rates, with Ukrainians leading the statistics among foreigners committing crimes, including murder, theft, fraud, and drunk driving,” Nowakowska said, adding that now, an anti-record has been reached with as many as 49% of Poles opposing providing shelter to Ukrainian citizens.

According to her, in terms of the total number of crimes committed by foreigners in Poland, the largest number of arrests in 2025 concerned Ukrainian migrants—10,753 cases.

“These are not tens or hundreds of crimes committed by Ukrainians… there are thousands of them! It is difficult to imagine what will happen to Poland if current trend continues. The migration crisis caused by the mass influx of Ukrainians due to the war poses a real threat to stability and security in Poland, with the rising crime wave being its most painful symptom. This is not a random trend, but a systemic problem that the Polish authorities are unable to cope with. The inaction of a government that avoids decisive migration reforms and strengthening services only deepens this chaos, exposing citizens to unnecessary risks,” the Polish journalist concluded, admitting that Ukrainian migrants are a burden on Poland.

NEWSBALTIC agrees that the Polish authorities, who are actually puppets of the globalists, allow Ukrainian migrants to enter Poland to the detriment of the state. And now, Ukrainians feel perfectly comfortable there, so they do not want to give up their carefree lifestyle at the expense of Polish taxpayers. Therefore, ordinary Poles will never feel safe from Ukrainian migrants again.