Transit to Kaliningrad: Why Lithuania sees Russian options as a hazard | EUROtoday

Every day, Russian trains from Moscow drive straight via Lithuania. Their aim is the exclave Kaliningrad. But since Russia’s assault on Ukraine, these trains have been a possible safety threat for a lot of Lithuanians.

It is chilly and wet when the silver prepare of the Russian State Railway was on the prepare station in Kena this morning. The border station is situated straight on the Lithuanian border to Belarus. Just a few passengers look over the moist platform from the prepare.

It isn’t attainable to talk to them. Because getting out and in is strictly forbidden on this prepare. Some wave out of the prepare, others rapidly transfer the curtains.

Only one group of border officers might enter the prepare. Today they management round 160 passengers who wish to journey to Kaliningrad on this prepare. The Russian exclave lies between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea.

The controls have grow to be extra strict

There was border controls previously, however the indicators have modified and the gaze of border officers has grow to be extra strict.

Today the trains are a safety threat for some in Lithuania. Also for Andrius, whose full title should not be talked about. “In a certain way, the trains are a danger, at least if you want to use them for an evil purpose,” he says.

Andrius is a part of a Lithuanian particular unit. He and his colleague are simply filling up a helicopter in entrance of a hangar someplace close to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. “Just new,” says Andrius and factors to the helicopter. You paid that with EU funds. Because it’s concerning the safety of the EU’s outer border, explains Andrius.

Immediately he and his colleague ought to begin a surveillance flight, ought to hold a Russian transit on his method via Lithuania.

Not all transport allowed

The transjections are largely excluded from sanctions, however strict guidelines apply. Not all the pieces have to be transported: troopers and navy tools might not cross the route via Lithuania. Upper borders apply to metal and concrete.

The border safety was massively expanded. New helicopters, new surveillance expertise – this value way over 100 million euros in accordance with the Lithuanian border safety.

The considerations of the Lithuanian authorities: Russia might transport troopers and even navy tools into the Kaliningrad exclave. Because it’s strategically effectively situated.

“These trains should be banned”

Some in Lithuania would favor to ban the trains instantly, says Ruta. It is the municipal chairman in Kybartai, a small city straight on the border with Kaliningrad. 4500 folks reside right here in sight to the border.

They grew up carefree right here. Her father labored on border safety and nonetheless inform: they cooperated effectively with the Russians from Kaliningrad, pleasant.

But these occasions are over, says Ruta: “Today it is different because the war is no longer far away, you perceive everything differently.”

But such a ban could be tough. Lithuania is already thought of the attainable goal amongst safety consultants in Russia. Because if Russia would deliver the strip between Belarus and Kaliningrad beneath its management, the NATO international locations would not have a land connection to their allies within the Baltic States.

For Moscow, a ban on the Russian transition could possibly be one more reason for an assault.

Silent protest with banners

And so many in Lithuania solely have the silent protest, for instance at Kena prepare station on the border with Belarus.

While the border officers stroll via the prepare from Moscow, massive banner fluttered on the platform for the Russian passengers. Pictures from Ukraine might be seen on them: corpses on the aspect of the street, bombed homes, an previous girl with amputated legs.

Most passengers hardly appear to contemplate the marginally light posters.

Like from one other world

Raimondas Pranka additionally hung a poster. Above the doorway of his station pub within the capital Vilnius is in Russian letters: “Long live Ukraine”. The passengers of the transjections, which drive previous right here, would hardly be capable of see it, however Pranka is a couple of signal.

In the previous, DJs from Belarus had even been invited, however the celebration friendship was over with the battle in Ukraine and the course of the Belarusian authorities near Russia.

Gediminas sits at a desk in entrance of the pub. He additionally is aware of the trans transfer. “It feels like two worlds, two planets. So close together. We here, the ones there.” You should not forbid these trains, he says. “It’s a matter of humanity. Politics is different.”

Hope for peace – sooner or later

Hub screwdriver pilot Andrius hopes that his management flights will not be crucial sooner or later. But that can in all probability take a very long time. Until then, he and his colleagues will proceed to observe the Russian transitions from the air.

The prepare from Moscow is allowed to depart the border station in Kena. “There were no abnormalities,” says a border official. In a number of hours you’ll be able to anticipate the Russian prepare – the subsequent transit in the course of Lithuania, in the course of the EU.

You can see these and different reviews within the European journal – on Sunday at 12.45 p.m. within the first.