Powerful Explosion Rocks Natural Gas Pipeline Connecting Lithuania And Latvia. CEO Says There Is No Sign Of Attack

 

ABC News Australia: Lithuania-Latvia gas pipeline explodes, but CEO says there is no sign of attack 

A gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia has been hit by an explosion but there was no immediate evidence of an attack, according to the pipe's Lithuanian operator. 

Videos showed a fire raging at the blast site in the Panevezys county in northern Lithuania. 

The fire has since been extinguished, said the chief executive of transmission operator Amber Grid. "According to the initial assessment, we do not see any malign cause, but the investigation will cover all possible options," Nemunas Biknius said.  

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WNU Editor: Natural gas pipeline explosions occur once in a while. But I have lost count on the number of natural gas pipelines that have occurred in Europe since the start of the Russia - Ukraine war. There is obviously a war that is being conducted in the shadows.

Powerful Explosion Rocks Natural Gas Pipeline Connecting Lithuania And Latvia  

Explosion in gas pipeline in Lithuania, no injuries reported -- AP 

Lithuanian gas pipeline hit by large explosion -- BBC  

Explosion hits gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia - nearby village evacuated -- SKY News  

Gas pipeline explodes in Lithuania, Russia's neighbour, but no signs of attack -- The Telegraph  

Lithuania gas pipeline explodes, nearby village evacuated -- DW  

Lithuania-Latvia gas pipeline blows up, but no sign of attack -- The Independent  

Gas pipeline between Lithuania and Latvia blows up -- Al Jazeera

Lithuania Declares State Of Emergency Over Migrant Arrivals From Belarus

Migrants caught by the Lithuanian border service VSAT crossing from Belarus, July 2, 2021 © pasienis.lt/VSAT 

 Politico: Lithuania declares state of emergency over migrant arrivals 

Foreign minister accuses Lukashenko of trying to ‘weaponize’ migration. 

Lithuania declared a state of emergency on Friday after 150 illegal migrants crossed into the country from neighboring Belarus. 

The Lithuanian government has accused Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko of trying to destabilize the country in retaliation for its support of EU sanctions and for the Belarusian opposition movement, which has been protesting since a fraudulent presidential election last August.  

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Update #1: The Massive Migrant Surge From Belarus Into The EU (RFE)  

Update #2: Lithuania declares emergency, appeals to EU over ‘flood’ of Iraqi migrants from Belarus (RT)  

WNU Editor: This is just the beginning. Yesterday, Belarusian President Lukashenko introduced a visa-free regime up to 5 days for citizens of 73 countries. Many of them from countries that are facing turmoil. And then there is the collapse of Afghanistan where I expect millions will be fleeing that country as the civil war expands. What better way to flee to Europe than by traveling through central Asia, Russia, and Belarus.

In the last 24 hours, Belarus has smuggled another 150 migrants into Lithuania – an all-time daily record. That’s more than in 2019 and 2020 combined. Also yesterday, Lukashenko introduced a visa-free regime up to 5 days for citizens of 73 countries. So this is just the beginning pic.twitter.com/KvK55Xy2QF

— Tadeusz Giczan (@TadeuszGiczan) July 2, 2021

Lithuanian President Says Russia Is Trying To 'Swallow' Balarus

CNBC: Belarus could be used as a Russian ‘weapon’ against NATO, Lithuania president says 

* NATO leaders are meeting in Brussels on Monday for their first face-to-face gathering since U.S. President Joe Biden started his tenure at the White House.

* At the top of their discussions is the relationship with Moscow, which, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, is at its lowest point since the Cold War. 

Russia is extending its influence into Belarus and could use it as leverage against NATO countries, Gitanas Nausėda, the president of Lithuania told CNBC in an exclusive interview Monday.

“We see the military buildup of Russian forces in Ukraine, in [the] Kaliningrad region and of course we see what’s happening in Belarus right now. 

We see that this country is losing its last elements of independence, and could be used in the hands of Russians as a weapon … for foreign aggressive activities towards NATO allies,” the Lithuanian leader said.  

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Update: At NATO, Lithuania says Russia trying to "swallow" Belarus (Reuters)  

WNU Editor: If Russia wanted to swallow Belarus they would have done so a long time ago.

There are many reasons why this has not happened, even though both countries share the Russian language, culture, and history. 

In the end it all comes down to what the people in Russia and Belarus want. And from what I can see, the overwhelming opinion in Russia is to keep the status quo. And in Belarus the overwhelming majority want to see the dictator Lukashenko and his regime gone. An integration of the two countries is not on the public radar.

Bodyguard of Lithuania President

Bodyguard of Lithuania president pic.twitter.com/MvbgBgD9r0

— English Russia (@EnglishRussia1) September 28, 2018

WNU Editor: She has the look of someone that you do not mess with.

An Arms Buildup In The Baltics

Baltic States Spend Big On Defense As Russia Buzzes Borders -- The Telegraph

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania strike £240 million of arms deals as they watch Vladimir Putin's Ukrainian adventure with alarm.

Russia's meddling in Ukraine has delivered a wake-up call on defence spending to small Baltic states which spent half a century under Soviet occupation and now fear the Kremlin's territorial ambitions.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are on heightened alert as Russian military planes and warships skirt their airspace and sea borders on a daily basis in what they call "unprecedented" Russian activity.

Nato said its Baltic air patrol intercepted more than 30 Russian aircraft on Monday alone over the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Norway.

That same day Lithuania put its military on higher alert after 22 Russian warships were spotted in the Baltic Sea, including a heavily-armed corvette within three miles of Latvia's sea border.

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My Comment: Spending £240 million on arms deals is not going to deter Russia nor will it placate the restive Russian communities in these countries.

Protesters Clash With Police In Lithuania

A man reacts as he stands in front of riot police at Lithuania's Parliament building in Vilnius, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters throwing rocks and eggs at Lithuania's Parliament on Friday. About a dozen windows on the parliament building, located in downtown Vilnius, were shattered. About 7,000 people gathered outside Lithuania's Parliament Friday morning to demonstrate against unpopular reforms aimed at combating the Baltic state's deepening economic crisis. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

From Yahoo News/AP:

VILNIUS, Lithuania – Violent political protests sweeping parts of Eastern Europe spread Friday to Lithuania, where police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at a rock-throwing mob attacking Parliament.

Fifteen people were injured and more than 80 detained in several hours of street fighting between angry protesters and helmeted riot police.

The violence followed similar riots this week in Bulgaria and Latvia amid a wave of discontent over economic woes, difficult reforms and government corruption. In all three countries, peaceful anti-government rallies ended in vandalism and brawls with police.

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