The intelligence activities of hostile states against Lithuania are becoming increasingly intense and particularly dangerous as Russia aggressively pursues its imperialist ambitions.
The intelligence services of hostile states collect both classified and unclassified – but still significant – information about Lithuania that can be used against Lithuania’s national security interests and cause harm to the country’s domestic and foreign policy. Information about Lithuania’s military capabilities and critical infrastructure may be valuable to hostile states in the event of an armed conflict or military aggression.
Foreign intelligence services also conduct influence operations against Lithuania – these include attempts to establish connections with politicians sympathetic to these states, organising information attacks, and trying to sway public opinion. Intelligence operations such as sabotage, vandalism, and cyberattacks are an integral part of the aggressive policies of hostile states against Lithuania and other Western countries.
Russian Intelligence Services
The most active intelligence operations in our country are carried out by Russian intelligence services, which possess the greatest capabilities to act against Lithuania.
In 2022, following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, all Russian intelligence personnel operating under diplomatic cover were expelled from Lithuania. To compensate for their limited ability to operate in Lithuania, Russian intelligence services have resorted to other methods: they recruit Lithuanian citizens traveling to Russia or Russia friendly countries, use recruited citizens of third countries for operations in Lithuania, actively use social media for recruitment, and carry out cyber espionage attacks against state institutions, armed forces, and critical infrastructure. The most covert operations in Western countries, including Lithuania, are carried out by so-called ‘illegals’ trained by Russian intelligence services.
In 2023, Russian intelligence services began conducting operations in Lithuania and other Baltic States that cause physical damage to people or objects. Targets included historical sites commemorating Lithuania’s resistance to the Soviet occupation regime, military and logistics infrastructure related to support for Ukraine, shopping centers, and other public gathering places. Russian intelligence services are also carrying out similar crimes in other Western countries that actively support Ukraine. These attacks aim to exert psychological pressure on Western societies, spread fear and panic, and pressure governments to withdraw support for Ukraine. The Kremlin has deliberately chosen to confront the West, and therefore accepts the high risks of such operations, carrying them out even at the risk of civilian casualties.
As the Telegram platform has become a particularly popular communication tool, Russian intelligence services actively use it to find potential agents. Recruited individuals on Telegram can be divided into two groups: those motivated by ideological beliefs and those seeking quick and easy financial reward. Russian intelligence services often initiate posts in Telegram groups that spread pro-Russian propaganda, post job advertisements, or trade drugs and other illegal substances. They primarily target socially vulnerable individuals who may agree to carry out tasks for monetary reward. These posts state the type of information that interests the services and offer payment for gathering such information. It is likely that Western residents who respond to these ads and begin collecting intelligence will later be exploited in sabotage and other criminal activities organised by Russia in these countries.
Belarusian Intelligence Services
The Belarusian regime considers Western countries’ ties with Belarusian democratic forces and the support provided to them one of the greatest threats to its stability. Such perception of threats is the reason behind the intense Belarusian intelligence services’ activity against Lithuania. Due to the presence of Belarusian opposition organisations and a rapidly growing Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania, our country is one of the main targets of Belarusian intelligence.
Belarusian intelligence services primarily operate against Lithuania from their own territory. They identify Lithuanian citizens traveling to Belarus who may be able to provide relevant information or carry out other tasks and seek to recruit them.
They also aim to exploit Belarusians residing in Lithuania to gather intelligence about Lithuania and its institutions, the Belarusian democratic opposition, and the Belarusian diaspora itself.
Chinese Intelligence Services
Chinese intelligence services in Lithuania pursue long-term goals related to political and economic influence.
Chinese intelligence primarily collects intelligence and attempts to expand its agent network in Lithuania from the territory of China. They most often initiate contact with potential targets via social media. Their targets frequently include current or former civil servants, IT specialists, defense sector employees, entrepreneurs, scientists, and other professionals. There is also a risk of recruitment for Lithuanian citizens who travel to China for business, academic, or tourism purposes.
China is expanding its cyber intelligence capabilities targeting Lithuania. Hacker groups affiliated with China regularly attempt to infiltrate Lithuanian government networks to intercept information and data.
What to Do If You Encounter Recruitment Attempts?
The State Security Department of Lithuania urges anyone who even slightly suspects they have encountered recruitment attempts or believes they or their organisation may be under surveillance by hostile intelligence services to report it to Lithuanian intelligence. Our staff will help you assess whether the threat is real. Timely reporting to the State Security Department helps prevent recruitment, manipulation, or blackmail of Lithuanian citizens and residents.
We also encourage individuals residing in Lithuania who are already involved with Russian or Belarusian intelligence services, or who have received offers to cooperate but have not yet informed Lithuanian authorities – or who feel they are in a hopeless situation – to contact Lithuanian intelligence services and take advantage of the amnesty provisions outlined in the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
