RIA Novosti publishes and deletes article suggesting military operation against Lithuania

RIA Novosti Lithuania nuclear threat special military operation Aleksandr Nosovitj

The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti briefly published an article by commentator Aleksandr Nosovitj that suggested a new, short-lived “special military operation” targeting Lithuania. The piece, which appeared on the agency's front page, included rhetoric suggesting that Russia could bypass ground troops in favor of using nuclear-armed missiles due to the geography of the Baltic region.

Nosovitj characterized Lithuania as a “suicidal nation without a brain” and compared the situation to the Cuban Missile Crisis. The publication followed a move by the Lithuanian parliament to support constitutional changes that would remove existing restrictions on the placement of weapons of mass destruction in the country.

RIA Novosti removed the article hours after publication, stating that the content did not reflect the views of the editorial team, its editorial policy, or the state policy of the Russian Federation. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda clarified that while the constitutional changes aim to provide flexibility for future security changes, there are currently no plans to store nuclear weapons on Lithuanian soil.

This incident coincides with warnings from Danish intelligence regarding a low but growing risk of Russia attacking a NATO member in the coming months.

Entities

Aleksandr Nosovitj · Gitanas Nausėda · Lithuania · RIA Novosti · Russia · Vladimir Putin

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 11 SOURCES] The Russian state news agency Ria Novosti removed the article after it was published on its front page. www.aftonbladet.se · petterssonsblogg.se · www.ta3.com · www.tv4.se · www.index.hr · +6 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Danish intelligence reported a low but growing risk of Russia attacking a NATO member in the coming months. petterssonsblogg.se · www.tv4.se
[● 7 SOURCES] Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated there are no current plans to store nuclear weapons in Lithuania, but constitutional changes aim to remove future restrictions. www.aftonbladet.se · www.ta3.com · www.kurir.rs · www.blick.ch · www.tportal.hr · +2 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Nosovitj suggested Russia could use nuclear-armed missiles instead of ground troops in a conflict with Lithuania. www.aftonbladet.se · petterssonsblogg.se · www.ta3.com · www.tv4.se · www.index.hr · +6 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Aleksandr Nosovitj published an article suggesting a short military special operation in Lithuania. www.aftonbladet.se · petterssonsblogg.se · www.ta3.com · www.tv4.se · www.index.hr · +6 more