Russia possesses ample resources, including high oil prices, evasion of sanctions, and public investment, enabling the Russian army to sustain its current level of intensity in the conflict in Ukraine for at least an additional two years, according to a report published by the Lithuanian State Security Counterintelligence Department and the Defence Intelligence and Security Service of the Ministry of Defence, on Thursday, the 7th of March, reports Reuters.
In their annual threat assessment for Lithuania, the security agencies reported that Russia has reformed and reinforced its war-weakened army in Ukraine in 2023. In addition, Russia is reported to be in full swing to increase its military capabilities along its border with NATO, including areas bordering Finland.
“Moscow is able to assess the lessons learned and improve its combat effectiveness,”
added the Lithuanian agency’s report, which was embargoed for publication on Thursday morning.
According to Reuters Russia’s defence minister said on Tuesday that the country had reinforced its military forces in the north and west of the country in response to the growing NATO forces near the country’s borders.
Russian intelligence services are trying to evade sanctions imposed on the Russian defence industry after the invasion of Ukraine, agencies said.
While only Iran and North Korea openly supply arms and ammunition to Russia,
China has become its largest supplier of microchips and the yuan has become the main currency for Russia’s international transactions, Lithuanian agencies said.
Lithuanian security agencies stressed that since Russia deployed warheads in Belarus in 2023, their infrastructure has been developing.
The report also pointed to increased efforts by Russian and Belarusian intelligence services to recruit Lithuanians crossing the border. Lithuania has detained several citizens in 2023, accusing them of providing data to Belarusian intelligence services in exchange for money.
Lithuanian security agencies also reported increased Chinese spy activities in 2023, which were attributed to Lithuania’s decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in 2021. The agencies noted that Chinese-linked cyber-agents regularly targeted Lithuanian authorities, actively testing for weaknesses in order to access networks and obtain data.
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