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Claims of a hybrid attack originating from Russia have accelerated Germany’s decision to expand its military presence in Lithuania. Berlin’s preparation to deploy over 100 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks to the region indicates that military activity on NATO’s eastern flank is approaching a conflict point. According to experts, tensions between the two historically hostile countries are rapidly increasing.
“Elchi” reports that as discussions about creating a joint European army and preparing for a possible war with Russia are underway, tensions between Germany and Russia have extended to the Baltic border. While reports of hybrid attacks from Russia targeting the German military presence in Lithuania have surfaced, it is reported that Berlin is preparing to deploy over 100 Leopard tanks to the region. These undisclosed military developments reveal a major tension between two historically hostile countries on NATO’s eastern flank. Here are the developments in Europe’s overlooked hotspot:
Russia’s hybrid attacks
According to information published by German intelligence agencies, although the Bundeswehr (German Army) units in Lithuania are not under direct attack, they are facing high-intensity hybrid pressure. It is reported that soldiers are receiving mysterious phone calls, systems at the base are constantly under hacker attacks, drones are monitoring training exercises, and sensitive defense systems are being observed. In an incident reported in German military expert Joshua Krebs’s “Inside the Bundeswehr” research, a soldier’s recent phone conversation was recorded and addressed to him by an unknown number. It has also been claimed that during the same period, the Arrow 3 air defense system and the 45th Armored Brigade’s training exercises were subjected to drone surveillance.
Military base under aerial surveillance
It was reported that in October 2025, two Russian military aircraft remained in Lithuanian airspace for approximately 18 seconds and were removed from the area by NATO aircraft. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as a new Russian provocation, while German Chief of Staff Karsten Breuer noted the increasing threat to Lithuania. It is reported that Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom are responsible for the Baltic air policing service; Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which do not have fighter jets, depend on NATO’s protection. The German government also deployed a mobile air force command unit to the military base in Lithuania between January and March to protect the country’s airspace.
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