Lithuania began “little green men” military training exercises on Wednesday to send Moscow a message: “We will not allow ourselves to be taken easily.”
Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms became known as “little green men” when they appeared during the annexation of Crimea and unrest in eastern Ukraine. Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite said Wednesday that training for an attack on its new gas terminal and other key targets will send Russian a message.
“We will not allow ourselves to be taken easily. We try to learn from the Ukrainian and Crimean situation. … We’re not fearing anybody,” Mr. Grybauskaite told Reuters.
Roughly 3,000 troops will take part in training deemed “Lightning Strike,” Reuters reported. Scenarios will involve troops protecting the country from hostile forces attempting to take over government buildings, airports, and weapons stockpiles.
“The exercise will involve dealing with what can be generally called the ’little green men,’ ” Donatas Suchockis, spokesman for Lithuanian Army’s Joint Staff, told Reuters.
Lithuania, a member of the EU, has a Russian minority population and fears that turmoil fomented in Ukraine can be engineered on its soil.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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