Lithuania has expelled three Ukrainian citizens accused of carrying out assignments for foreign intelligence services in exchange for payment, the State Security Department (VSD) said Wednesday.
The VSD said the individuals had previously been declared threats to national security and their temporary residence permits were revoked. “The individuals posing a threat to national security have been expelled from Lithuania and banned from returning for five years,” the agency said in a statement.
The three Ukrainians carried out a wide range of tasks for foreign intelligence services in return for payment, according to the agency. The assignments were communicated through Telegram and other messaging platforms.
The VSD warned that foreign intelligence services frequently use messaging apps and social media to recruit people in other countries. “This method is particularly effective because it is easy to implement, reaches a wide pool of potential agents and requires few resources,” the agency said. Intelligence officers using this recruitment method shift all risks and potential consequences of the assigned activities onto the people carrying them out, without taking responsibility for their safety, the VSD added.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case highlights an active recruitment method using messaging apps by foreign intelligence services targeting individuals in the Baltics.
- It demonstrates how even citizens of allied nations can be targeted and later expelled, reflecting the security state's zero-tolerance approach.
- The operation exposes the personal risks for individuals recruited for paid espionage tasks, including deportation and a five-year re-entry ban.
Background
Lithuania, a Baltic state on NATO's eastern flank, has frequently raised concerns about hostile foreign intelligence activity in the region. The VSD's statement frames the expulsion as a response to a method-driven recruitment threat, emphasising that vulnerable individuals are being paid via messaging platforms.
What to Watch
- Whether specific foreign intelligence services behind the recruitment are identified in future statements.
- If Lithuania tightens visa screening or public awareness campaigns targeting Telegram recruitment methods.
- Potential diplomatic coordination between Lithuania and Ukraine on counter-intelligence efforts.