Why Lithuania is polarised over Russia’s war in Ukraine

Russia’s navy invasion of Ukraine has drawn fierce condemnation from throughout Europe. 

However not in all quarters.  

In lots of international locations neighbouring Russia, particularly those who as soon as fashioned a part of the USSR, a small minority of largely Russian audio system have come out in help of the invasion and defended Putin’s goals.

One instance is the small Baltic state of Lithuania, which borders the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. 

As much as 15% of Lithuania’s inhabitants are Russian audio system, in line with Lithuania’s Analysis Council, and Russians make up the second-largest nationwide group in Lithuania. 

‘It’s insanity’

Sasha Danilkova, 25, who was born and raised in Lithuania, solely speaks Russian. 

Whereas Danilkova describes herself as Lithuanian, half of her household are Russian audio system descended from Russians and Ukrainians.   

“I’m utterly towards the warfare. It’s insanity,” she stated. “Putin and the folks round him have gone loopy.”

But, Danilkova’s view of the warfare is in stark distinction to that of her dad and mom and prolonged household, particularly its older members. 

“They are saying, sure, it’s unhappy folks will die,” she stated. “However a few of my household assume the warfare was wanted and that Putin is right.”

What she discovered “the weirdest half” was that such help was aired most vocally by the Ukrainian aspect of her household, who’ve kin within the nation. 

Though the views of Lithuania’s Russian-speaking minority towards the warfare haven’t been surveyed, different polls are indicative.

In a single European Values Research carried out in Lithuania, 54% of these whose first language was Russian agreed with the assertion — pushed by Moscow — that Russia’s insurance policies are an ample response to US and NATO actions directed towards it.

An additional 48 per cent stated they thought Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, lawfully belonged to Russia. 

‘The state of affairs is way from rosy’

Danilkova claimed age was behind her household’s pro-Putin sympathies. 

“Older generations of Lithuanians are nearer to Russian folks,” she stated. “They solely eat Russian information and largely speak to different Russian audio system.

“They do not hear different factors of view,” Danilkova added. 

Regardless of their supply, the views of Lithuania’s Russian audio system are impacting society. 

Dr Margarita Šešelgytė, director of worldwide relations and political science at Vilnius College, stated they have been creating “beneath the floor tensions”.

She stated lots of the Russian-speaking group are involved about government-led initiatives to rename the Russian Drama Theatre of Lithuania in Vilnius, as a result of Ukraine warfare, in addition to dismantling Soviet statues. 

Russian audio system are additionally more and more seen by Lithuanians with suspicion, in line with Šešelgytė. 

“There are specific prevailing stereotypes that trigger an absence of belief,” she stated, citing how Russian audio system’ intentions to affix the Lithuanian military had been met with suspicion and hostility in public debates. 

‘It by no means brought on issues up to now’

Nonetheless, the affect of Russia is just not solely associated to age. 

In response to Šešelgytė, help for Russia and Putin is “fairly excessive” in Lithuanian’s Russian-speaking colleges. 

She pointed to the truth that many academics inside the colleges have been Russian, alongside using the Russian language which “helps assemble an id of who they’re”. 

“The faculties are locations the place Russian propaganda and disinformation nonetheless reaches the youthful section of the society,”  Šešelgytė stated. 

“It’s a problem we’ve to consider.”

There are at present 48 Russian colleges in Lithuania, educating some 14,000 pupils every year. 

In an effort to curtail Russia’s affect, Lithuania banned Russian and Belarussian TV channels in 2022 and blocked many Russian information shops on-line. 

Nevertheless, Šešelgytė stated the state of affairs in Lithuania was “not as dangerous as in different Baltic states”, the place there are giant Russian-speaking minorities. 

One cause, she claims, is that Lithuania’s Russian audio system are effectively built-in. 

“They take part in civil service, research on the similar college, go to the identical eating places, the identical bars … which isn’t the case in different Baltic international locations the place there may be extra segregation,” she stated. 

Russian audio system in Latvia and Estonia, the place they account for roughly 25 per cent of the inhabitants, have lengthy confronted political and social difficulties since their independence from the USSR in 1991.  

A big quantity have nonetheless not attained citizenship, that means they’re unable to vote or maintain workplace nationally or within the European parliament. 

‘The warfare doesn’t enable a gray zone’

Šešelgytė stated issues for Lithuania’s Russian-speaking minority have been “getting higher” because the generations modified, regardless of the issues surrounding the warfare.  

Lithuania is likely one of the most energetic and vocal world supporters of Ukraine. 

Some 50% of Lithuanians have donated cash or discovered different methods of serving to Ukraine, in line with a Baltic Information Service Ballot. 

This basic local weather, stated Šešelgytė, was pushing Russian-speaking Lithuanians to disagree with the warfare. 

“Within the warfare, there isn’t a place for the gray zone,” she stated. “It’s both white or black and you need to take one aspect.” 

These efforts have additionally been supported by an efficient authorities message that has distanced Lithuania’s Russian audio system from the battle past their borders. 

“What we’ve succeeded in doing is pushing a message that the warfare is brought on by the Russian regime and which might be Russian audio system are secure,” she stated. “This isn’t a witch hunt.

“Now we have to remain united,” she added.