Lithuania Delivers Protest Note to Russia Over Threats to Strike Kyiv

Lithuania Condemns Russian Threats

According to Главком: Lithuania has lodged a formal protest with the Russian Federation after the Russian Ministry of Defense threatened to launch strikes on Kyiv and called for foreign diplomats to evacuate immediately. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry summoned a representative from the Russian embassy and handed over a protest note. The document states that Moscow's demands for diplomatic missions to evacuate amount to a threat of force, which has raised serious concerns in Vilnius.

Lithuania's Demands and Russia's Response

Lithuania views such statements as an admission of Russia's intent to endanger diplomats and civilians. Lithuanian authorities emphasized that deliberate attacks on internationally protected persons and civilian infrastructure constitute war crimes. The Lithuanian side demands that Russia:

• immediately withdraw all troops from Ukrainian territory;
• compensate for the damage caused.

In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense has urged residents of Kyiv and foreign diplomats to leave the city without delay. These actions coincide with Russian claims of Ukrainian drone attacks during a Moscow-declared ceasefire, and they do not rule out retaliatory strikes on Kyiv. At the same time, Russia announced a unilateral truce from May 8 to May 10 to mark the 81st anniversary of the victory over Nazism, urging Kyiv to follow suit-but framing the initiative with threats.

Despite the escalating situation, the Lithuanian embassy in Ukraine continues its operations, and staff remain in Kyiv.

This incident underscores the heightened tensions between Lithuania and Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As one of the Baltic states, Lithuania has been a strong supporter of Ukraine and is working to uphold international norms regarding the safety of diplomats and civilians. Vilnius's protest may signal growing unease across Europe over Russia's actions and their potential consequences for regional security.

The escalating rhetoric from Russia has prompted Lithuania to take a firm stance, emphasizing the need for accountability in the ongoing conflict. This situation is not isolated; Lithuania has previously condemned similar actions by Russia, labeling them as violations of international law. For a deeper understanding of Lithuania's position on Russia's military aggression and its implications for civilian safety, read more about how Lithuania has formally protested against Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians as war crimes in a recent statement.