Kaliningrad

As Russia's westernmost federal entity, the Kaliningrad Oblast occupies 15000 sq km and houses under 1 million people. Russia is divided into 85 such ...

Situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad, which is the administrative centre of the Kaliningrad Oblast, receives a significant amount of its supplies from routes in Lithuania and Belarus. Governor of Kaliningrad, Anton Alikhanov, said that around half the goods imported by the region would be affected by this. The Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are worried the war between Russia and Ukraine may spillover into their territory. Their consequences will have a serious impact on the population of Lithuania.” On public holidays and weekends, there is traffic and movement at the border as people travel to the neighbouring countries, with Polish port city Gdansk being a popular destination. Left in ruins after a prolonged siege by the Red Army in April 1945, Kaliningrad transformed from the land of the Teutonic Knights to an industrial and commercial centre dealing in lumber, paper making, fishing among others. The city still retains bits of its German past through architectural elements and landmarks such as the grave of philosopher Immanuel Kant.

Lithuanian Army soldiers hold Lithuanian and NATO flags during the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Lithuania's membership in NATO in Vilnius, Lithuania ...

We are ready to operate in conditions of uncertainty and chaos, but today we train normally, we have no reason to react differently." Just weeks later, the link between Russia and Kaliningrad was disrupted in the move by Lithuania. On the other hand, we understand that Russia is using the opportunity for propaganda." "On the question of what they will be...Will they be exclusively in the diplomatic plane? They will not be in the diplomatic, but in the practical plane," added Zakharova. Russia is working to reroute the affected goods to seaports and ship them on ferries to Kaliningrad. "In the event of a real military threat to the Kaliningrad region, the Russian Federation will be forced to create a land corridor to the region through the territory of Lithuania," said the CIS Institute member. "In the event of a real military threat to the Kaliningrad region, the Russian Federation will be forced to create a land corridor to the region through the territory of Lithuania."Vladimir Evseev, the head of the Caucasus Department of the Institute of CIS Countries If this is not done, then, of course, and this was emphasized at all levels in Moscow, retaliatory actions will be inevitable." "We constantly receive informational and other types of provocations and threats, but we do not wave our hand at it and we remain vigilant - we train for this," added the military. The Lithuanian Military stated on Facebook that the situation in Lithuania "remains unchanged," adding that "to date, there is no direct military threat to Lithuania." The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the response to transit restrictions placed by Lithuania on Kaliningrad will be "practical" and "not diplomatic" in statements on Wednesday.

One Baltic diplomatic official said Russia is "trolling" NATO states as it seeks new leverage in Ukraine.

"This is quite a different case than we're used to," the Estonian diplomat said. "The land transit between the Kaliningrad region and other parts of the Russian Federation has not been stopped or banned," the ministry said. The EU's institutions are already involved in discussions to find a solution, the diplomat added. "The transit of passengers and EU non-sanctioned goods continues without restrictions. Baltic diplomats, meanwhile, have told Newsweek that Moscow is "trolling" its NATO rivals and probing for weaknesses in the alliance's unified front on Ukraine. Russia will not be able to supply Kaliningrad with all necessary sanctioned goods by sea alone, the diplomat added, noting this would be too expensive an alternative for Moscow.

A new flash point has erupted between Russia and the West after Lithuania said it is blocking sanctioned Russian goods from reaching Russia's Baltic Sea ...

The rising cost of fuel is causing serious pain in Europe where strikes and protests are growing in number. Western media have dubbed the sparsely populated Suwalki Gap “ the most dangerous place on earth.” It says the return to coal will be temporary. … Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania.” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was blocking goods as stipulated by EU sanctions that came into force on June 17. Russia’s attacks in eastern Ukraine continue to kill civilians, too.

Kaliningrad is part of Russia, but it's surrounded by the EU. It's only link with the rest of Russia is a railway through Lithuania, and Moscow is furious ...

Three decades after they severed ties with the Soviet Union, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia still depend on Russia for much of their power supply. But the restrictions on goods moving through Lithuania will greatly limit that prospect. Lithuania's decision to ban the transit of certain goods between Russia and its isolated exclave of Kaliningrad has provoked wrath among top officials in Moscow, and even a threat of retaliation against the European nation. The United Nations has warned that blockade could lead to a prolonged global food crisis. "We consider this to be a most serious violation... It is home to the Russian military's Baltic Fleet, and a number of advanced nuclear-capable Iskander missile installations.

EU sanctions because of Ukraine war are behind blockade of goods to cut-off Russian region of Kaliningrad.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas warned Wednesday of the danger of Russian provocations amid the Kaliningrad tensions. Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of Russia's Security Council and a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday to meet with local officials. The transport of most Russian transit via Lithuanian ports already has been halted under EU sanctions, but Moscow could move to restrict transit for cargo from third countries through Lithuania. The three pressed their move toward independence under former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and regained it when the USSR collapsed in 1991. Since the Cold War era, Kaliningrad also has served as a major base of Russia's Baltic fleet. As Russia's relations with the West have soured, Kaliningrad's military role has grown.

The Kremlin has so far not openly suggested that it is considering taking military action over Lithuania's new transit restrictions.

The Kremlin has so far not openly suggested that it is considering taking military action over Lithuania’s new transit restrictions. I appeal to the Russian side to remain cool-headed, not to escalate, neither in words, nor in deeds and settle this dispute by diplomatic means." The leadership of the European Union (EU) maintains that Lithuania is merely upholding the EU sanctions regime established in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "I had a 20-minute meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko. We exchanged on the situation of transit to Kaliningrad through Lithuania," said EU ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer, according to Russian state news.

Lithuania wraps around its north and east; to the south lies Poland. In other words, Kaliningrad is a chunk of Russia sitting firmly within the bounds of ...

Logically, Lithuania knows it has the power of NATO and the EU to support it, but fear is not always a logical emotion. Lithuania's Prime Minister, Ingrida Simonyte, said that "any talk of a blockade is a lie". There in front of you is a border crossing, and beyond that you leave the European Union and enter Russian soil. And yet, what a very strategically important thimble it is. It is a geographical, political curiosity. Because as you round a corner near the top of Kyrbartai, the town comes to a sudden end.

Lithuania says it will impose EU sanctions on the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, a move strongly criticised by the Kremlin.

"It's nothing to do with a blockade. [The] real blockade is with regard to the ban on the export of grain." But the move sparked fury among top Kremlin officials.