DISINFO: Poles and Lithuanians are fleeing the Suwałki region in fear of Russia

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: Poles and Lithuanians are fleeing the Suwałki region in fear of Russia

SUMMARY

Residents of Poland and Lithuania are fleeing en masse from the so-called Suwałki Corridor, fearing a potential advance of Russian troops from Belarus toward the Kaliningrad region.

Instead of fleeing, the citizens of these countries should strive to change their governments’ policies towards Russia. All NATO military plans towards Russia include an attack on the Kaliningrad region. In this situation, Russia will be forced to take immediate control of the Suwałki corridor. Therefore, Poland and Lithuania should abstain from any actions against the Kaliningrad region.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation suggesting that Western countries have aggressive plans towards the Kaliningrad region and are attempting to “encircle Russia”.

There is no evidence of panic among the civilian populations in Poland and Lithuania living near the Kaliningrad region.

Furthermore, Lithuania, Poland, and other Western countries have no territorial claims over Kaliningrad. The assertion that these nations are attempting to undermine the legal status of Kaliningrad or “take away” the region from Russia is not supported by any credible evidence.

The unfounded claims about alleged security threats to Kaliningrad is used by the Kremlin to justify the increasing militarisation of this region.

See previous examples of disinformation messages alleging that Kaliningrad exclave is threatened by NATOThe US plans to take over the Kaliningrad region and Aim of NATO’s exercise: prepare for the annexation of Russia’s Kaliningrad region.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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