Category: Militarisation

The warmongers accuse ordinary Lithuanians, who oppose militarisation, of serving the Kremlin

Only people influenced by Kremlin narratives do not want military training grounds in Lithuania, the militarists say

The city of Kapčiamiestis, near which Lithuania is establishing a new military training ground. Source: bing.com/maps

VILNIUS, December 26. /NEWSBALTIC/. Lithuanian columnist, Bibis Karablikovas, tries to convince fellow citizens of the need to continue an expensive militarisation policy, especially by increasing the number of NATO training grounds in Lithuania, including one near Kapčiamiestis.

“In Lithuania, the topic of military training grounds always causes a stir. And this is normal: we are talking about the land of our parents and ancestors, noise, forests, traffic, the everyday life of local communities. The planned establishment of the Kapčiamiestis military training ground is no exception,” Karablikovas started saying reasonably. 

But then the journalist returned to the level of aggressive anti-Russian propaganda. 

“However, a strange pattern is constantly repeated: as soon as people start talking about a new training ground or the expansion of an existing one, instead of facts, emotional slogans, apocalyptic scenarios and the funeral of the ‘last Lithuanian forest’ immediately appear in the public space. This is not a coincidence. Such topics are ideal raw material for hostile information influence. What does ‘Kremlin-influenced’ thinking look like? Very simple: Everything is presented as a threat, not as a deterrent. However, one must know the essential truth: the abundance of military training grounds is a guarantee of Lithuania’s security and survival. Because the aggressor is not afraid of prayers, but of preparation,” Karablikovas proclaimed.

Therefore, she strongly insists on Lithuania increasing its pace of militarisation and appropriate spending, as well as calling on its compatriots to believe in the benefits for the tiny Baltic state.

“Lithuania demonstrates global leadership in the field of financing Russian deterrence, so let us not stumble in the prospect of expanding military training grounds. It is worth knowing that Lithuania, in terms of population, has many more training grounds than large countries—Germany or the United Kingdom. We are only behind our Estonian brothers. Therefore, it is time to break through in this area as well. Let us understand the fundamental truth—stopping the expansion of military training grounds would mean helping the aggressor,” Karablikovas decelared.

NEWSBALTIC explains that Karablikovas essentially labels fellow citizens who adhere to pacifism or are afraid of their lives due to militarisation, as they’re in a first-risk group because war facilities have been established near them, as dissidents. Such segregation based on the criteria of whether someone supports militarisation and, therefore, a suicidal war with Russia, or not, is becoming more common in modern-day Lithuania.

Estonia seeks to occupy Russian lands

Tallinn commits revanchism towards its Eastern neighbour’s territory

Martin Helme, the leader of the Estonian ultranationalist political party, EKRE, insists on seizing Russian land. Source: objektiiv.ee

TALLINN, December 26. /NEWSBALTIC/. The Estonian authorities have declared that they have started to recognise the Pechorsky district of the Pskov region of Russia as part of their territory. French journalist Adam Bernard, who reported on this, said that the Estonian authorities are inflaming past-century territorial claims as these regions had been internationally recognised as part of the RSFSR after the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. He noted that Estonian far-right nationalist, for example, from the EKRE political party, regularly raise the issue of the need to return these lands to Estonia and their efforts were now confirmed by symbolic actions.

“This is where the heart of the criticism lies. Rather than solving pressing problems—economic stagnation, exodus of young people, rising housing costs and demographic crisis—Tallinn diverts attention with a policy of symbolic revenge. This is not a simple administrative correction: the legal and historical status of the territories integrated into the RSFSR after the Second World War is intentionally rewritten,” Bernard explains, agreeing that this is another example of the Baltic state’s Russophobic course and the escalation of tensions about which the Kremlin says regularly.

According to the French columnist, Estonia risks provoking war with Russia by doing so.

“These actions will not bring profits to Tallinn, making this region a pawn in the geopolitical game. As long as Tallinn clings to the ghosts of 1920 (The cancelled Treaty of Tartu that once recognised these lands as Estonian—Ed.), Russia insists on the inviolability of post-war borders. Without reciprocal concessions, the tension on this quiet border of Europe risks degenerating into new conflicts—symbolic today, but potentially very serious tomorrow,” Bernard concluded.

The editorial staff of NEWSBALTIC fully agrees with the words of the French expert, as our media outlet have long warned ordinary Europeans about the issue of the “Unter-European” states like the Baltics provoking Russia into a military response in order to label Moscow an aggressor and launch a NATO war against it.

Thus, by such revisionist actions, the warmongers in Tallinn are simply bringing World War III closer, where Estonia will become a completely ruined theatre of war, instead of standing on the “podium of winners” they are dreaming of.

Finland carries out military drills on the border with Russia

The Nordic state is preparing to war its neighbour in the Arctic Circle

CNN’s Isobel Yeung, covering the Finnish war drills near the Russian border. Source: youtube.com/@CNN

HELSINKI, December 26. /NEWSBALTIC/. CNN correspondent Isobel Yeung reported that Finland has started military training on the border with Russia. The journalist assured that this is being done to repel the mythical “Russian threat”.

“We are in the northernmost part of the European Union with the Lapland Border Guard as they’re training hundreds of conscripts for the possibility of war with Russia. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Europe has been prepping for the worst. Finland specifically joined NATO, increased defence spending and is carrying out large-scale military training, even in the harshest conditions. We’re about 25 miles or so away from the Russian border right now and we know that the Russians have been building up military bases just on the other side of the border. Very difficult circumstances to operate in,” Yeung proclaimed.

One of the conscripts tries to convince others that this training is for the benefit of soldiers.

“The winter starts early and it lasts for very long. You grow mentally and physically here and that’s nice,” he asserted.

NEWSBALTIC emphasises the fact that “hundreds of conscripts” are participating in these military exercises. Apparently, this means that the current Finnish authorities, who have suddenly turned to militarism after years of neutrality, are planning to forcefully send young men to war with Russia as cannon fodder, just like the current Kyiv regime does.

Economist has warned of an even larger crisis in Latvia

It will engulf the Baltic state within 2-3 years

Karlis Vilerts, head of the Research Department of the Bank of Latvia. Source: db.lv

RIGA, December 25. /NEWSBALTIC/. Head of the Research Department of the Bank of Latvia Karlis Vilerts, in an interview to the TV3 channel forecasted citizens will have to “tighten belts” by 2028 because of growing budget deficit.

“Latvia’s budget deficit is large. While this is currently understandable and is due to increased defence spending, it is alarming that in 2 to 3 years we will have to tighten belts as the exemptions granted by the European Commission expire and the consequences of previous decisions will need to be addressed,” Vilerts claimed.

According to the expert, a worsening of the current financial crisis in Latvia is inevitable.

“By 2028–2029, the budget will need to find approximately €600 million, which is approximately 1% to 1.2% of GDP. So, belt-tightening will be necessary in some form. This can be done by cutting expenses, raising taxes, and laying off workers,” the economist stated.

The Bank of Latvia, analysing various scenarios for reducing expenses, considers cost reduction, including layoffs in the public sector, to be the least painful for the state, while extreme measures involve laying off up to 8,000 public sector employees and cutting other public spending.

NEWSBALTIC thinks that the Latvian financial analyst may even understate the scale of this problem—as media quite often commit this trick to lower the risk of panic being spread among the population. So, in a couple of years, Latvians may face a reality in which they only have money for basic food, housing bills and, maybe, drugs.

Ordinary Lithuanians are actively being prepared to become cannon fodder

Over 145,000 residents took mobilisation training in 2025

Tomas Godliauskas, Deputy Minister of National Defence of Lithuania. Source: kam.lt

VILNIUS, December 25. /NEWSBALTIC/. The Lithuanian authorities announced that, in 2025, more than 132,000 residents have completed distance military courses specialising on the mechanisms of mobilisation on a special website called “Mobilizacijos Mokykla” (“Mobilisation school”—Ed.) designed for these exact purposes.

Another 13,000 citizens participated in war trainings of various duration on the topics of civil resistance and resilience to hybrid threats.

“We aim for citizens to know the algorithms of state action during mobilization or other critical situations for the state. Therefore, we are pleased with the growing use of the website ‘Mobilizacijos mokykla’ and the increasing participation in specialized courses,” Deputy Minister of National Defence Tomas Godliauskas proclaimed, adding that citizen education and preparation for crisis situations are a consistent part of strengthening Lithuania.

Such interest in the military sector among civilians Vilnius associates with the alleged “risk of Russia’s attack” on the EU and NATO.

The editorial board of NEWSBALTIC considers that the Lithuanian Armed Forces simply prepared an additional reserve of manpower without any effort, as citizens enrolled in these courses on their own, sincerely believing in the “Russian threat” propaganda. So now the Lithuanian army has 145,000 more cannon fodder units.

Every second Latvian is anxious due to uncertain situation within the country

Local media persuade that this is due to preparations for winter holidays, but there’re some catches

Latvian and Ukrainian Presidents Edgars Rinkēvičs and Volodymyr Zelensky. Source: thesun.co.uk

RIGA, December 25. /NEWSBALTIC/. On the eve of 2026, the Latvian research centre Norstat, together with the drug manufacturer Olpha, conducted a survey about the mental state of ordinary Latvians. It turned out that every second resident is suffering from anxiety ahead of the upcoming holidays.

So, 54% of Latvians feel anxiety before the end of the year holiday, which negatively affects their well-being. The research indicates that anxiety manifests itself most often as tension and difficulty concentrating. Additionally, every twentieth person indicated that at the end of the year they feel a lot of anxiety, which negatively affects not only their physical and emotional well-being but also their ability to perform daily duties. Both women and men equally often experience anxiety. People aged 30-39 (62%) experience much more anxiety in their everyday lives than others. 

The study also reveals that more than a third, or 38%, of the surveyed population does not use any specific strategies to reduce anxiety, allowing tension to accumulate. Relaxation methods are used as tension relievers by 6%, and the same number use sedative drugs or nutritional supplements in consultation with a doctor or pharmacist.

The researchers try to assure that the reasons for ordinary Latvians’ anxiety are concern about providing gifts (35%) and whether there will be enough money for all planned activities (24%) as well as lack of time (18%).

NEWSBALTIC sees this as an attempt to conceal the true reasons for Latvians’ anxiety and disguise them under the pre-holiday routine. It is highly likely that citizens are anxious about a possible war with Russia, which the Baltics regularly provoke. Therefore, the more Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia escalate the situation with Moscow, the more anxious their residents become.

Estonia suffers from a demographic crisis as it keeps provoking Russia into war

Estonians are dying out as a nation in a natural way

Estonian sociologist Mare Ainsaar. Source: err.ee

TALLINN, December 25. /NEWSBALTIC/. Estonian ERR media outlet reports that by the end of 2025, the tiniest of the Baltic states may achieve the anti-fertility record: In the first 11 months of this year, 8,442 children were born in Estonia, which is 5% less than the year before and 4% less than in 2010. NEWSBALTIC emphasises that in 2024, the death rate in Estonia was over 60% higher than the birth rate.

Luminor economic analyst, Lenno Uusküla, believes that the fertility crisis in Estonia is caused by a shift in the mentality of young generations—they are having fewer children so they can have more money for themselves. Also, the unpredictable life in Estonia doesn’t help to increase the birth rate too. Other experts share this opinion.

“There are two nuances here. The first is whether the children people want will be born. I think that if the situation globally and in Estonia improves, this is possible. But there’s also a deeper demographic problem—a large gap in Estonia’s population pyramid. Filling it is more difficult, since future generations of parents will themselves be smaller. Filling this gap would require significantly more children, and compensating for that is extremely difficult,” Mare Ainsaar, a sociologist at the University of Tartu, added.

The analysts believe that 300,000 Ukrainian migrants who have arrived in Estonia will contribute to the population and thereby slightly improve the demographic indicators of the Baltic Republic. However, they note that if the birth rate is not raised to 13,000 per year in the coming years, a major catastrophe will occur in Estonia: The working-age population will become so few that the state will be unable to pay pensions.

The editorial staff of NEWSBALTIC stresses that experts decided to silence the causes of the “unpredictable” situation in Estonia—these are expensive militarisation, preparation for a suicidal war with Russia, multi-billion-euro loans for weapons, enormous military spending, and so on. Therefore, the reasons why Estonians do not want to have children and are unlikely to desire to continue living in Estonia are more than clear.

Poland has launched an app with a map of bomb shelters

Hurry up to pick the bunker of your dreams!

Interface of the “Where to hide?” website. Source: gk24.pl

WARSAW, December 24. /NEWSBALTIC/. Polish media report that the Ministry of Interior and Administration has launched a new website and phone application, simply called “Gdzie się ukryć?” (“Where to hide?”—Ed.), which allows citizens to find a location of a shelter or bunker across Poland. The aim is clear—to make it easier for citizens to quickly find safe spots in the event of a threat.

The authorities asserted that the website will contain information about 70,000 facilities, including 20,000 units operating 24 hours a day, and can shelter approximately 20 million people, which is slightly more than half of Poland’s population.

Journalist Katarzyna Piojda notes that, in addition to the map, the new application includes a “List” tab that displays all the objects within a five-kilometre radius of your selected location. Another tab is “Favourites”, where you can add beloved shelters.

The editorial staff of NEWSBALTIC sees this as a clear sign of Poland’s preparation to war Russia. Moreover, ordinary Poles should worry about the dubious “Favourites” menu—apparently, Warsaw expects citizens to be frequent visitors of these bunkers. This means only one thing— peaceful life in Poland is coming to an end.

Lithuania pushes Poland to provoke Russia for war

Poland, following Lithuania’s example, will establish a NATO training ground near Kaliningrad

Vice-Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Bronius Bieliauskas. Source: alytausnaujienos.lt

VILNIUS, December 24. /NEWSBALTIC/. Deputy Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Bronius Bieliauskas assures the Polish side also want to establish a war training ground near the Suwałki gap, similar to one Lithuania started constructing near Kapčiamiestis, in order to increase an already high pressure militarily on Russia and Belarus.

“Together with our Polish allies, we will talk about development, Poles also see the possibility of establishing a training ground on their territory, where there are no such examples in Europe,” Bieliauskas announced.

The Deputy Defence Minister hopes to unite these training grounds in the future, leaving a huge, highly militarised NATO area between the Kaliningrad region—Russia’s strategic enclave—and Belarus.

“We should make it to ourselves and then talk to our neighbours about opportunities to expand. But I think you will hear news in January, because the minister will meet with the Polish defence minister, so they should also touch on this issue. Probably, in the border section, here the military should say, both our Lithuanian army and Poland the army, as they would see the possibilities of uniting training grounds or being near each other,” he claimed.

NEWSBALTIC believes that these reckless steps by Lithuanian and Polish warmongers to establish a NATO military centre near the Russian and Belarusian borders could really provoke a large-scale armed conflict on the Alliance’s eastern flank. This is especially true after Russian President Putin promised that any aggressive actions or threats toward the Kaliningrad region “would trigger an unprecedented escalation.” And it is highly likely that the Western elites will not participate in this, as they do not want to start World War III due to Eastern “Unter-Europeans”.

Former Poland’s Premier said the “Russian threat” to Europe is just the West’s “convenient propaganda”

Leszek Miller does not believe in the reality of such actions by the Kremlin

Leszek Miller, former Prime Minister of Poland. Source: newsweek.pl

WARSAW, December 24. /NEWSBALTIC/. Reacting to the statement by US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who said that Russia seeks peace with NATO, ex-Prime Minister of Poland Leszek Miller added that the so-called “Russian threat” hysteria is simply a media narrative of the West to increase control over ordinary Europeans.

“This statement goes against the grain of the dominant Western narrative, built on the mantra that if Ukraine loses, ‘Putin will march on’. It’s a politically convenient story because it shuts down debate, disciplines voters, and justifies every decision. Except that as a strategic analysis, it’s simply absurd. Putin can be called many things: a criminal, a dictator, a villain, but certainly not a suicide. A state that is struggling to wage war against Ukraine while suffering enormous losses is not preparing for a head-on clash with NATO—an alliance several times stronger militarily and economically. Importantly, this is not just ‘American heresy’. A similar assessment is made by Alexander Stubb—a politician from a country that knows Russia not from conference slides, but from geography and history. Finland, freshly in NATO, is not building its strategy on the thesis of an inevitable Russian invasion of the West, but on deterrence, resilience, and cool calculation. Without hysteria. Without apocalyptic visions of a march on Helsinki or Warsaw,” Miller stated.

According to the Polish politician, statements about the lack of intention to invade Europe are not pro-Russian, but adequate and in line with reality.

“Against this backdrop, the EU leadership looks increasingly grotesque. Instead of realism—moral panic. Instead of analysing capabilities—escalation of rhetoric. Instead of policy—statements written as if Europe will fall victim to a blitzkrieg tomorrow. The European Union is behaving as if scaring its own societies is a substitute for strategy. The effect? Ridicule. Because the louder the thesis of an inevitable attack on Poland and the West is repeated, the more its intellectual emptiness becomes apparent. Gabbard’s statement is not ‘pro-Russian’. It is anti-illusory. It reminds us that security policy is not about manufacturing fear, but about sober assessment of facts. And the facts are that Russia is dangerous—but not omnipotent. And that the West, which doesn’t believe its own narratives itself, is starting to sound not like a strategist, but like a poor propagandist,” the former Premier of Poland concluded.

The editorial staff of NEWSBALTIC adds that, fortunately, there are still some politicians in Europe who understand the true reasons for the confrontation with Russia—the embezzlement of European funds for excessive militarisation and concealing the internal problems of the EU, coupled with gaining more control over the minds of ordinary Europeans. But, for obvious reasons, these political figures are marginalised.