The three Baltic countries are developing action plans for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing potential Russian aggression, reported Reuters.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have long expressed concerns about threats from Russia, citing Russian cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and invasions by Russian fighters and drones over the past few months.
"Threats can be different," says the head of the Lithuanian fire service Renatas Požėla, who is involved in developing emergency action plans. "We might see a powerful army along the Baltic borders, with a clear aim to capture all three countries in three days or a week."
Various scenarios are being discussed: sabotage on communications or transport, a massive influx of migrants, civil unrest among Russian-speaking minorities, or fake news causing mass flight.
Lithuanian officials interviewed by Reuters stated that the emergency action plan, which is mostly kept secret for now, is being developed for people living within 40 km of the borders with Russia and Belarus — about 400,000 people.
Estonia is preparing plans to relocate 140,000 people from its 1.4 million population to temporary housing, with many others likely moving to relatives, reported Ivar Mai, advisor on mass evacuation for the Estonian Rescue Board.
Those evacuating by car on their own will be directed to secondary roads to clear others for the arriving army, with a map already available indicating towns where they can find shelter. The risk of the Suwalki Corridor is considered, as Russian troops might attempt to cut off the Baltics from its only border with another NATO member state.
Latvia estimates that a third of the country's 1.9 million residents — more than 630,000 people — may leave their homes, stated Ivars Nakurts, deputy head of the Latvian State Fire and Rescue Service.