Lithuania’s President Accuses Russia of Fueling Disinformation Over Military Training Ground

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has said he suspects Russia of spreading misinformation about plans to build a new military training ground near the southern town of Kapčiamiestis.

The allegations come amid growing public concern in the region and renewed warnings from Vilnius about Russian influence operations targeting local communities.

Speaking to the media, Nausėda said the fears circulating among residents were largely unfounded and amplified through disinformation.

Presidential Visit Aimed at Defusing Tensions

According to LRT, Nausėda plans to visit Kapčiamiestis later this week to meet directly with residents and address their concerns.

“People now have many fears about mass deforestation, land seizures, and lack of security,” the president said. He added that he intends to engage in a constructive and respectful dialogue while clearly refuting what he described as false narratives spreading “from all sides, probably not without Russia’s help.”

The decision to travel to the region personally suggests the presidency views the issue not just as a local planning dispute but as part of a broader information security challenge.

Training Capacity as a National Priority

Nausėda emphasised that the proposed training ground would bring economic benefits to a relatively remote area in Lithuania. He cited infrastructure development, local employment, and increased investment as likely outcomes.

From a defence perspective, he argued that the Lithuanian Armed Forces currently lack adequate training facilities. Regular exercises, he said, are essential for maintaining readiness.

“An army that eats three times a day, sleeps, and does nothing is not an army,” Nausėda remarked, using blunt language to underline the point that preparedness cannot exist without proper infrastructure.

Disinformation Concerns and Russian Influence

Lithuanian officials have repeatedly warned that Russia exploits local controversies to instill distrust in state institutions, particularly when defence or NATO-related projects are involved.

The Kapčiamiestis debate fits a pattern seen across the Baltic states, where environmental, land use, or social concerns are amplified online and reframed as evidence of state overreach or foreign occupation.

Nausėda’s comments suggest that the government believes the current wave of alarm is being artificially intensified rather than organically driven.

Broader Context of Information Warfare

The controversy arises shortly after Lithuanian special services revealed the repurposing of correspondence involving Russian opposition figure Leonid Volkov for propaganda purposes. The case, although unrelated to the training ground itself, reaffirmed official warnings about the weaponization of selectively leaked or manipulated information.

In Vilnius, the overlap between defence planning and information security is no coincidence. Hostile influence campaigns increasingly view infrastructure projects linked to national defence as prime targets.

Balancing Local Concerns and Strategic Needs

The challenge for Lithuanian authorities now is to reassure local communities without downplaying legitimate environmental or social questions. Nausėda’s planned visit is meant to strike that balance, countering disinformation while acknowledging residents’ right to be heard.

Whether the effort succeeds may shape not only the fate of the Kapčiamiestis project but also how Lithuania manages similar disputes in the future, in a region where security, perception, and trust are tightly intertwined.