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“You’ll Be Hit First”: Russia Targets Poland and Baltics in New Wave of Threats
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergey Naryshkin, has issued a warning to Poland and the Baltic states, stating they would be among the first to suffer in the event of a NATO confrontation with the so-called Union State of Russia and Belarus.
According to Russian state media TASS on April 15, Naryshkin described Poland and the Baltic countries as “provocateurs,” emphasizing their perceived role in escalating regional tensions.
He claimed that while any potential conflict would affect the entire NATO bloc, political leaders in Warsaw, Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn would face the most immediate consequences.
“They still fail to understand that in the event of aggression by NATO against the Union State, the entire alliance would suffer damage. But first and foremost, those who promote such ideas—political circles in Poland and the Baltic states—would be affected,” Naryshkin said.
The SVR chief criticized these countries for what he called “verbal aggressiveness” and accused them of engaging in constant military signaling.
He highlighted recent Polish plans to deploy around two million anti-tank mines along its borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Naryshkin also claimed that Warsaw is seeking to acquire US nuclear weapons.
He described the regional military activity as a key driver of the ongoing security crisis on the European continent, calling the situation “serious and dangerous.”
Earlier this year, Poland urged citizens to prepare for emergencies by storing essential supplies and launched nationwide civil defense training. The government also plans to double military trainees by 2027 and expand voluntary defense programs.
At the same time, Lithuania accelerated border fortifications with Belarus and Russia, raised its defense budget target to 5–6% of GDP by 2030, and began construction of a NATO base for 5,000 German troops. French fighter jets were also deployed as part of NATO’s air policing mission.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte supported these moves, urging member states to increase defense spending to up to 3.5% of GDP, warning that preparedness is key to preventing future war with Russia.
