Main narratives:
- General anti-government sentiments;
- The incompetence of the current government;
- Scepticism towards NATO functionality.
Overview:
This week, Kremlin-aligned media continued to exploit the aftermath of the Pabradė tragedy, sharply criticising the Lithuanian government’s handling of the incident. Malign outlets questioned the prolonged silence from both military officials and politicians, claiming that public communication had suddenly stopped after the vehicle recovery, which they framed as suspicious. These narratives accelerated new conspiracy theories, portraying the silence as intended and feeding the idea that the government intentionally hid key information from its citizens.
In parallel, pro-Kremlin sources targeted Lithuania’s defence policies more broadly, focusing on the proposal to establish a new military training ground. Rhetorical questions like “Why not turn the entire country into one big polygon?” were used to mock the government’s commitment to national defence and to amplify scepticism toward military preparedness. These messages sought to portray Lithuania as mindlessly following NATO directives at the expense of its people and environment.
Alongside defence-related criticism, the week saw a surge of generalised disinformation attacks on Lithuanian institutions. Disinformation actors condemned the newly proposed real estate tax and accused the government of financially burdening citizens while “threatening them with war.” Institutions like Sodra were painted as opportunistic entities that profited from Lithuanians during moments of crisis. By weaving together economic discontent, fear of conflict, and distrust in leadership, Kremlin-aligned media aimed to amplify public frustration and erode confidence in democratic institutions.
