Who’s subsequent? Lithuanians put together for potential Russian aggression

Fire away! And the capturing begins. For three years now, Paulius Liskauskas has been coaching for the worst-case state of affairs. These days, that state of affairs has by no means felt so shut, the 39-year-old Lithuanian informed DW.

“I actually wanted to join the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in 2014 after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula and gave the first signs of this war against Ukraine,” he mentioned. “Even back then, Russian state propaganda had Lithuania in its sights. To us, that means we could be next.”

Along with Liskauskas, a dozen different males and two girls are additionally having a go on the weapons. This is all taking place in darkened room on the primary flooring of a small constructing within the pedestrian zone in Marijampole, a metropolis within the south of Lithuania.

A display hangs on the wall. On it, there are animations of terrorists hiding behind one factor or one other. They are the gunners’ targets.

In reality, the entire thing would possibly even be one other peculiar pc sport, if it wasn’t for the loud shrieks popping out of the audio system each time a shot is taken. The loud noises are there to remind everybody of the true battle, the one taking place in Europe proper now.

One of the ladies within the room occurs to be Liskauskas’s spouse. Both of them are carrying the olive inexperienced uniform of the Riflemen’s Union, a paramilitary group supported by the Lithuanian state. Basically the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union is a form of addition to the nation’s current navy, made up of Lithuanian civilians who commonly practice with weapons and who’re able to combat if worst involves worst.

Controversial historical past

The Riflemen’s Union has an extended custom in addition to a controversial repute. It was based in the beginning of the twentieth century and, due to Lithuania’s combat for independence, the group collaborated with Nazi Germany. After Lithuania turned a part of the Soviet Union, the group’s members fought towards the Soviets as Lithuanian partisans. Some ended up victims of Stalinism.

After Lithuania declared independence within the Nineties, the Riflemen’s Union skilled a renaissance. And because the battle started in Ukraine, the group has seen a serious inflow of enthusiastic locals. Liskauskas is completely satisfied to now be one in every of 14,000 members.

In explicit, it is because Liskauskas’ household lives in an space that might trigger main navy and strategic issues within the occasion of a Russian assault: the so-called Suwalki Gap, which is known as after the close by city of Suwalki.

The Suwalki Gap is a slender strip of land connecting Lithuania to Poland. It’s squeezed between the Russian-controlled enclave of Kaliningrad to the northwest, and the nation of Belarus to the southeast. The Belarusian authorities is taken into account a Russian ally.

The Suwalki hole is just 65 kilometers in size and likewise the one land connection between the Baltic states and different NATO associate nations. In a disaster, many locals right here concern that Russia would possibly block this hole. As a end result they really feel a deep antipathy in the direction of Russia.

Liskauskas, who works as a lawyer, shares this antipathy. He does, nevertheless, make a distinction between Russian politics and peculiar Russians. “I have Russian clients, whom I am still in contact with; I don’t feel hatred toward them, just towards the Russian state and its propaganda.”

Russian practice passengers enroute from the Russian capital Moscow to the Kaliningrad exclave move although Vilnius railway station, the place they could not embark. There they’re confronted with posters displaying grim scenes from the battle in Ukraine. Each posters bears the identical message, asking Russians whether or not they actually wish to hold supporting President Putin.

Readying for an emergency

For 45 years, Lithuania and Russia each belonged to the Soviet Union. After gaining independence, Lithuania joined NATO in 2004. In latest years, tensions with Russia have been rising.

The Ukraine battle is a wakeup name, says Lithuanian MP Laurynas Kasciunas. His nation should be higher armed to fend off a possible Russian assault, he informed DW. “We only have a few years left to prepare, that’s why we need a bigger NATO presence as a major deterrent.”

It is due to the Ukrainians that Lithuania has time to make such preparations, says Tomas Janeliunas, a political scientist at Vilnius University. When Russia launched its assault in Ukraine, some Lithuanians thought of fleeing their very own nation out of concern, he says.

Now, nevertheless, many have come to appreciate Russia’s military is weaker than anticipated, and Ukraine’s resolve greater than anticipated. “Things like the war in Ukraine are a good lesson for us, they give us time to ready ourselves. The Ukrainians are buying us time, we need to use that well and prepare,” Janeliunas says.

And so, volunteers like Paulius Liskauskas with the Riflemen’s Union hold honing their purpose at goal observe. While he would definitely welcome extra NATO troops on Lithuanian soil, he says that if battle broke out, he and his spouse would each take up arms.

“It is difficult to talk about the future,” he informed DW. “We are living in difficult times and nobody knows what the future will bring. That’s why it is important to live in the here and now, and to take small steps and use patriotism to make our own country stronger.”