Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Russia is intensifying a hybrid-war campaign against Latvia through increased migrant crossings from Belarus [1].
The escalation suggests a shift in Russian tactics to destabilize NATO allies as the Kremlin faces deteriorating conditions on the battlefield in Ukraine [1].
Speaking in an interview on July 23, Kulbergs linked the current border instability to the broader conflict. He said that the Russian leadership is utilizing non-conventional methods to exert pressure on neighboring states [1].
Kulbergs specifically pointed to organized crime elements facilitating the movement of people across the border. "The top level of the Russian mob is behind the recent uptick in attempted migrant crossings into Latvia from Belarus," Kulbergs said [1].
The prime minister described these actions as a direct consequence of the war in Ukraine. He said that the Russian president is seeking new avenues of aggression because his military position has weakened [1].
"Putin is stepping up a hybrid war on Latvia because he is losing in Ukraine," Kulbergs said [1].
Latvia continues to monitor the border with Belarus to prevent further unauthorized entries. The government views these crossings not as a migration crisis, but as a coordinated security threat orchestrated by Moscow [1].
“"Putin is stepping up a hybrid war on Latvia because he is losing in Ukraine."”
This development highlights the use of 'weaponized migration' as a tool of geopolitical pressure. By leveraging criminal networks to push migrants into EU and NATO territories, Russia can strain the administrative and security resources of frontier states without engaging in direct military conflict. This strategy allows the Kremlin to create internal political friction within the European Union while diverting attention from its losses in Ukraine.
