Russia preparing possible 'provocation' in Baltic states or Poland, sources say

[highplainsdem]

Source: Guardian

Two countries on Nato’s eastern flank have warned that Russia is preparing a possible “provocation” in the Baltic states or Poland in an effort to test the cohesion of the western military alliance.

Western sources also fear there could be danger on the horizon because the Kremlin is coming under pressure from Ukraine’s campaign of long-range attacks on targets near Moscow and St Petersburg.

On Monday, Latvian intelligence said: “We see indications that Russia is preparing military provocations against the Baltic countries or Poland.” However, it would be well short of a full scale attack.

A senior political source from a second Nato member made a similar statement last week. They said “we are picking up intelligence” that Vladimir Putin was “planning something against the Baltic states”.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/26/russia-provocation-baltic-states-poland

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Right on schedule, American troops will fight alongside Russian troops to invade Europe soon

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

12. Yup, right on schedule!

[BidenRocks]

14. I thought the same.

[msongs]

2. ruskies are failing in ukraine why would they add more combat?

[Rhiannon12866]

3. That was my first thought, too

My maternal grandmother emigrated to the U.S. at 15 to escape Russian occupied Poland.

[sprinkleeninow]

5. "because"....

[DFW]

7. They won't, not soon, anyway.

Putin just wants to know what he can get away with. After his catastrophic miscalculation with the Ukraine, he wants to stir unrest to the extent he can, but not a shooting war. Russian troops could overrun Estonia in a day. Putin wants desperately to know what we would do about it. Under Biden or Obama, he would have started World War III. With Trump, he isn’t totally convinced he’d suffer severe consequences, especially when Trump is advised by the likes of Rubio, Hegseth and Kushner. Putin surely sees that the odds are low that we’d shrug our shoulders and say, “oh, well,” but he also knows that with the current Republicans in power, his chances are better than with a President Mark Kelly or a President Buttigieg.

[cstanleytech]

4. Assuming Putin and whoever else supports the idea doesn't suffer from falling out a window.

[DFW]

8. If his top military brass is against it, and he orders it anyway

His chances of his next flight being solo out of a tenth story window improve dramatically. I’m sure his Ukrainian adventure has freaked them out as it is.

[dave99]

6. looks as if Moscow will a history book item of 'What once was'

[Figarosmom]

9. I doubt he's afraid the US will stop him

Besides trump being all in with putin. It has been shown that trump and the war guy don't know what they are doing and have no idea how to command a war campaign. Just plain incompetent.

[C Moon]

10. When is satan going to call home his play buddies putin and trump?

[fujiyamasan]

11. They want to test their defenses

Similar to what Israel (and the US) did last summer with Iran.

Putin needs to get a more concrete check on NATO unity. I don’t think he needs another shooting war. It’s not just about Trump either, but European states as well. He’ll probably wait until Starmer is gone, because he’s been clear on where he stands in the conflict. There’s been remarkable unity and continuity so far between parties in the UK with regards to Ukraine. I’m sure the next Labor PM will follow through. But if somehow Farage comes to power…say due to a snap election or something…

Putin also knows Europe is hurting from high gas prices and needs to test their resolve. It will likely be calculated and more provactive than actual kinetic damage.

[JoseBalow]

13. Xi is squandering his opportunity to move on Lake Baikal

"the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." ― Sun Tzu