DISINFO: Germany plans to push Russia out of Kaliningrad
SUMMARY
The German army itself is not combat-ready at present, but tremendous efforts are being made under the slogan "Russia is the enemy" to bring both the military and society into a state of combat readiness. That's the situation. And Ukraine is not the main strategic stake here — it's the Baltic region. Because there is a concept of the Baltic Sea as an "internal sea," with the further aim of pushing Russia out of Kaliningrad, blockading it. And beyond that, the main goal is to cut off or hinder Russia's access to the Northern Sea Route — particularly in cooperation with China.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West, its allegedly belligerent and hostile agenda and involvement in the war in Ukraine. Since Russia began its aggressive and unprovoked actions against Ukraine, Russian officials have accused European countries and NATO of a series of threats and hostile actions elsewhere, including Baltic Sea area.
It also includes pro-Kremlin disinformation claims suggesting aggressive plans of the Western countries regarding the Kaliningrad region and attempts to “encircle Russia”. The unfounded claims about alleged security threats to Kaliningrad is used by the Kremlin to justify the increasing militarisation of this region.
NATO enhances its military presence in the Baltic Sea to deter any future attempts by a state or non-state actor to damage critical undersea infrastructure there in accordance with international law of the sea, including the freedom of navigation.
This claim was made in the context of measures being taken to enforce the sanctions on Russia imposed by the EU in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On May 20th the European Council adopted the 17th package of economic and individual restrictive measures curbing Russia’s energy revenues that fuel its war of aggression against Ukraine, by heavily targeting Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers, their operators, as well as a major Russian oil producer.
The sanctions package targeted Putin’s shadow fleet, doubling the number of vessels included in the list of those subject to a port access ban and ban on provision of a broad range of services. Restrictive measures on the shadow fleet are intended to dismantle its operational capacity, thereby reducing the oil revenues that support Russia's war economy.
Our analysis of the recent communication strategy of pro-Kremlin outlets explains how they attempt to portray Russia as a victim and to deceive audiences into believing that Russia is fighting Western powers.
See previous examples of disinformation messages alleging that The Western special services are preparing to detach Kaliningrad from Russia, that Kaliningrad exclave is threatened by NATO; The US plans to take over the Kaliningrad region and Aim of NATO’s exercise: prepare for the annexation of Russia’s Kaliningrad region, that "Baltic Sentry" is NATO’s maritime blockade to lock Russia in, that Scandinavia and the Baltic states are preparing to open a second front against Russia, that Finland wants to invade Russia in Barbarossa 2.0 operation, that the West turns Poland into another “Reich” for a new “Drang nach Osten”, that the West is aiming to open a second front against Russia, and that the EU announced a war on Russia, allowing Ukraine to attack targets in Russia.