Main narratives:
- Questioning the country’s security;
- Scepticism towards NATO functionality;
- The incompetence of the current government;
- General anti-government sentiments.
Overview:
Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media operating in Lithuania focused heavily on a Belarusian drone that entered Lithuanian airspace before disappearing, prompting a search operation. The incident became a centerpiece for ridicule and disinformation. State-issued early morning emergency alerts sent to citizens’ phones were mocked as unnecessary panic within Kremlin-aligned media, and Lithuania’s security institutions were portrayed as incompetent. Several malign outlets suggested that authorities only realized the drone’s flight path based on citizens’ reports, using this narrative to undermine trust in national defense capabilities.
In parallel, NATO faced intensified criticism last week. The drone incident was used to suggest that Lithuania’s allies are totally incapable of protecting its airspace, with some narratives implying that NATO would be powerless in a real military confrontation. Broader criticism of the Alliance followed, aiming to erode public confidence and portray NATO as a hollow guarantee of safety.
Rather than treat the incident as a security matter under investigation, Kremlin-aligned platforms framed it as proof of systemic failure, both of Lithuania’s leadership and its alliances. In doing so, they sought to fuel public fear and uncertainty, pushing the narrative that Lithuania is vulnerable and completely alone.
