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Fake News Operations Aimed at Discrediting Allies

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JUNE 2020. NO 6 (25). NEWS GRATITUDE EXPRESSED TO OUTGOING U.S. ROTATION SCANDAL-RIDDEN UKROBORONPROM SEEKS Fake news operations FRESH START IN TIES WITH WESTERN ARMS MAKERS aimed at discrediting allies NATO'S PRESENCE nalysts of the Strategic Communi- Lt Gen Christopher G. Cavoli. cation Department of the Lithua- Lithuanian Armed Forces analytical staff EVERT-JAN DANIELS: nian Armed Forces caught sight of also underscore that even as the situation "I AM NOT ONLY A CAPTAIN" Aa complex false information operations that concerning the COVID-19 pandemic is unfolded in several phases aiming to discredit normalising, there are still attempts to use Lithuania's strategic ally, specifically, U.S. it for misguiding people and spreading dis- Amy Europe last week, May 22-28. information. 58 information incidents were Representatives of the Lithuanian Armed identified over the past week, over 60% of Forces inform that the hostile information which were in Russian. In total, 1335 infor- operation began immediately after the 13 mation incidents of different types concern- May 2020 press release from the U.S. Army ing COVID-19 were seen in virtual space in Europe concerning DEFENDER EUROPE Lithuanian, Russian, English, and French, 20 Plus international exercise being renewed from February 1 through May 28. in part of Europe, including Poland. National defence, NATO and Lithuania's The operation was carried out in two allies are the other perennial targets of dis- phases. Two fake news articles were pub- information. The perpetrators seek to fuel SPECIAL lished during phase 1 on May 13 and 27. negativity in the Lithuanian public towards They presented a counterfeit "view" of the Armed Forces and defence financing, POLISH-LITHUANIAN Christopher G. Cavoli, U.S Army Europe, blame the European Union with "provok- USAREUR Commanding General, and ing" civil unrest in Belarus, and the union 1863–1864 INSURRECTION Col Patrick O'Neal, Commander of the U.S. itself is said to lack completely in solidarity, AGAINST THE RUSSIAN TSAR Army 2nd Brigade Combat Team allegedly ability to tackle the challenges caused by the stating the Baltic states and Poland were COVID-19 pandemic, and is on the verge of not capable of training in such exercise. The falling apart. second phase of the fake news operation un- U.S. and Western European media is also folded on May 27: falsified e-mail letters pre- blamed for "spreading" disinformation about tending to have been sent by the Baltic News the COVID-19 situation in Russia. The West Service media organisation and the Minister is falsely claimed to wage an information at- of National Defence of Poland were sent to tack against Russia and use the pandemic the Media, other countries, and internatio- to internationally discredit both, Russia and nal organisations. The letters included links China. to fake news articles and the "senders'" nega- Information by the Strategic Information tive evaluation of the fake statements from Department, Lithuanian Armed Forces News Content NEWS FAKE NEWS OPERATIONS AIMED AT DISCREDITING ALLIES............................................1 NEW RAILHEAD WILL MAKE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO EQUIPMENT MORE CONVENIENT.......................................................................................2 GRATITUDE EXPRESSED New railhead will make TO OUTGOING deployment of NATO U.S. ROTATION......................................................................................3 equipment more convenient SCANDAL-RIDDEN UKROBORONPROM SEEKS FRESH START IN TIES WITH WESTERN new railhead of Pabradė-Pažeimenė railway line of national importance has been completed in May, it will improve condi- ARMS MAKERS..................................................................................4,5 tions for deploying military vehicles and equipment of NATO allies to the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area of the Lithua- nian Armed Forces near Pabradė (Švenčionys region, Eastern part of IN SHORT Lithuania). On May 29 the newly opened transportation capability was LITHUANIA MARKS tested out by the outgoing U.S. rotation deploying home from Lithuania. Part of the railway infrastructure in the 51st kilometre of the Naujoji DAY OF MOURNING AND HOPE Vilnia–Turmantas–Latvian border line was refurbished, roughly a kilo- ON JUNE 14.............................................................................................6 metre worth of a new section was railed, new electricity, communica- tions, signal, and traffic control systems were installed as a result of the completed constructions. NATO'S PRESENCE "This is a strategic project for our country, it will significantly facili- tate deployment of allied troops and equipment to Lithuania and create EVERT-JAN DANIELS: better conditions for the constant military movement between the train- ing areas in Rukla and Pabradė. Swift and effective deployment of allied "I AM NOT ONLY A CAPTAIN".......................................................8 forces to the territory of Lithuania strengthens our security, therefore improvement of military mobility and support rendered by Lithuania as SPECIAL the host nation remains among the top priorities of the national defence system," Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis says. POLISH-LITHUANIAN 1863–1864 Minister also underlined the close cooperation between the Lithua- INSURRECTION AGAINST THE nian and the U.S. forces. "U.S. military presence in Lithuania is our strongest security assurance. The Lithuanian Armed Forces is improv- RUSSIAN TSAR...................................................................................16 ing training area and military mobility infrastructure with the intent to create conditions for allied forces to deploy and train in Lithuania," the Minister said. "Lithuania has been a kind and generous host to the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, and for that we are grateful. Our combined training exercises over the recent months have demons- Military Press Office of Lithuanian Armed Forces Totorių str. 25, LT-01121, Vilnius; trated beyond doubt that we are strong partners and we are ready and Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 86 94458; fax (370 5) 273 5550; able to defend. This railhead will further enhance military mobility Email [email protected] within Lithuania, facilitate future troop movements to the Pabrade Publisher — Lithuanian Armed Forces. The opinion of editorial office does not necessarily coin- Training Area, and reduce safety concerns for both troops and Lithua- cide with the opinion of the authors. Pictures, manuscripts are not returned and reviewed. Cir- culation is 300 copies. Printed by the Cartography Center of Lithuanian Military, Muitinės str.4, nian citizens," U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania HE Robert S. Gilchrist Domeikava, LT-54359 Kaunas dist. Order GL-244. said at the event. Information: MoD Photo credit: Giedrė Maksimovicz/MoD 2 Lithuanian Military Digest News Gratitude expressed to outgoing U.S. rotation n May 21 a symbolic farewell and Fighting Vehicles, other vehicles. In its turn, Area in the same month to ask about their liv- decorations ceremony was held at Lithuania ensured full Host Nation Support — ing conditions, support received from Lithu- the General Silvestras Žukauskas accommodation, logistical support, access to ania, their needs and combat training plans. OTraining Area (Pabradė region) for the United training area infrastructure. The U.S. troops were conducting combat States rotational force that were deployed in First troops of the rotational force flew in training events and exercises of medium scale, Lithuania for deterrence and training alongside to Lithuania in mid-October last year, their shred professional expertise with Lithuanian Lithuanian colleagues for 8 months. equipment was brought a little later by roads colleagues while in Lithuania. The U.S. sol- 1st Battalion, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (1- and railway. diers were also engaged outside of their base 9th Cav), 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Army, based Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Valde- in Lithuania and direct tasks: they helped set- at Fort Hood in Texas was deployed and train- maras Rupšys visited the rotational U.S. force ting up a gym at General Povilas Plechavičius ing in Lithuania from October 2019 to spring at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Cadet Lyceum School and gladly attended of this year. community events a number of "I thank and I express my re- times. spect to the soldiers of the United U.S. Army soldiers have been States of America for the experi- rotating into the Baltic States and ence they have shared with us and Eastern Europe since spring 2014 as I wish you a safe return home, part of the U.S. Army Operation At- enjoy the travel and stay healthy," lantic Resolve in the eastern part of Commander of the Lithuanian the Alliance. It is a demonstration of Armed Forces Logistical Support the U.S. collective defence commit- Command Colonel Ramūnas ment to NATO allies in ensuring se- Baronas said at the formal fare- curity after the Russian aggression in well ceremony. Ukraine. Half a thousand of U.S. troops Prepared on the basis of information deployed to Lithuania with heavy of the Lithuanian Armed Forces equipment — approx. 30 Abrams Photo credits: tanks, over 20 Bradley Infantry Sgt 1st Class Erikas Suchodolskij June 2020. No 6. 3 News Scandal-ridden Ukroboronprom seeks fresh start in ties with Western arms makers f Ukroboronprom is to continue as any- a tainted reputation," Abromavicius said at an President Volodymyr
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  • Lithuanian Independence Movement That Struggle Did Not Succeed, It Energized the Only Gradually Evolved in the Homeland

    Lithuanian Independence Movement That Struggle Did Not Succeed, It Energized the Only Gradually Evolved in the Homeland

    Special Footprints of Lithuanian Americans in the struggle for Independence Lithuanian American National Council A FREQUENTLY OVERLOOKED HISTORIC Convention, Madison Square FACT IS THAT LITHUANIA’S DECLARATION Garden, New TH York, March 13- OF INDEPENDENCE OF FEBRUARY 16 , 14, 1918. 1918, DID NOT OCCUR OVERNIGHT. IT WAS, Photo above INSTEAD, THE CONSEQUENCE OF A SERIES in the right: OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND POLITICAL Lithuanian American DEVELOPMENTS. THIS, OF COURSE, DOES National NOT DETRACT FROM THE ACHIEVEMENT Council, delegate pin Whitehead WHICH THE DECLARATION’S SIGNATORIES Hoag, New BROUGHT ABOUT. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE Jersey. REMEMBERED THAT THERE WERE MANY OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE INCLUDING MANY LITHUANIAN AMERICANS WHO ENERGETICALLY JOINED IN AND EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS CAMPAIGN. 16 Lithuanian Military Digest Special THE NATIONAL AWAKENING Independence — complete Lithuanian politi- t is generally agreed that the Lithuanian cal sovereignty a year before it was declared in National Awakening of the late 19th centu- Lithuania! ry and the resultant Lithuanian Indepen- Idence movement stemmed from the Polish- A LITHUANIAN MONARCHY? Lithuanian Insurrection of 1863–1864. While The Lithuanian independence movement that struggle did not succeed, it energized the only gradually evolved in the homeland. Initial- nation to continue its efforts to free itself from ly, the leaders of the movement merely sought Czarist rule. The consequent brutal suppres- some modicum of political autonomy, some sion of this insurrection led to an even greater accommodation within the framework of Czar- resolve to resist tyranny. The Russian regime ist Russian Empire. In 1905 the Russians were outlawed the publishing of books in the Lithu- routed in the ill-fated Russo-Japanese War.