HOT REPORT | Ukrainian Military Specialists in Lithuania – How Drone Defence Cooperation Is Reframed as Aggression

BECID’s latest Hot Report looks at how a legitimate security measure — Ukrainian military specialists sharing practical experience in countering drone threats with Baltic countries — is being distorted into claims that Lithuania and its neighbours are helping coordinate attacks against Russia.

The report shows that this is not an isolated falsehood, but part of a broader and evolving information campaign. Over time, pro-Kremlin narratives have moved from disputed drone incidents to allegations of “opened” Baltic airspace, NATO aggression, EU-directed provocation, and now supposed Ukrainian attack coordination from Baltic territory.

It also explains why these narratives can be effective: they build incrementally on real events, exploit uncertainty around drone technology, and reverse responsibility by presenting defensive measures as evidence of escalation.

The Hot Report offers practical recommendations for governments, security institutions, media, fact-checkers, educators, civil society and the public on how to recognise and respond to these recurring tactics.

Read the full Hot Report to see how the narrative has developed, why it works, and what can be done to counter it: