The Latvian president spoke about the Russian threat, saying the country is working on the assumption that it must be ready for any scenario.
Russia’s hybrid war in Europe has already begun, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said, responding to warnings about Moscow’s attempts to intimidate countries supporting Kyiv. Bloomberg reported on the politician’s remarks at a press conference near Latvia’s border with Belarus.
Last week, an unnamed European intelligence official told Bloomberg that there were indications Russian intelligence and security services were considering hybrid operations, potentially including infrastructure sabotage or false-flag attacks against the Baltic states and Poland.
Latvia is currently investigating a fire that broke out in July at a warehouse belonging to a charity providing assistance to Ukraine.
Latvia, a member of the European Union and NATO, has also faced a rising number of irregular migrants attempting to enter the country from Belarus. In response, the authorities have deployed drones, helicopters, additional sensors, and personnel along the border.
“At the moment, we are working on the assumption that we have to be ready for any scenario. We are watching very, very closely together with our NATO allies what is happening beyond our borders,” Rinkevics said.