Border area's flag has scared Lithuania a lot. When it comes to scaring opponents, Russia is really good at it!
Russia replaced an ordinary Russian flag with the Soviet Union's red flag - the iconic sickle and hammer pattern is clearly visible. This flag was not hung on government buildings or appeared in parades, but was specially erected on a prominent high ground just a few kilometers away from the Lithuanian border.
To ordinary people, it may just be replacing a flag; but for a country like Lithuania, the historical weight behind this flag is almost equivalent to a silent warning shot.
The location of this flag change is near the Suvalki Corridor, a narrow strip only 60 kilometers wide that connects the NATO member states of Poland and Lithuania. It is generally regarded by Western strategic circles as "the most vulnerable throat of NATO."
The Soviet flag itself carries significant symbolic meaning. Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and regained independence only in 1990, during which time there were large-scale deportations, suppression, and cultural repression. Therefore, the sickle and hammer flag in Lithuania is not only a historical symbol, but also a concrete representation of traumatic memories. Russia's choice to raise this flag at this time and place is equivalent to a precise psychological strike.
More notably, this is not the first time that Russia has used "non-military means" to pressure neighboring countries. After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, Russia held the "Steadfast Defender" exercise near the Polish border in Belarus, and raised the Soviet military flag in the exercise area;
In 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense organized the "Historical Flags Day" event in the Karelia region near the Finnish border, displaying various historical flags including the Soviet flag. These actions did not involve direct military force, but effectively created tension, forcing the other side to respond diplomatically and militarily.
In short, Russia understands the art of "fear management": without firing a single shot, one flag, one exercise, or a historical memory can make the opponent tense and allies gather quickly. This "low-cost high-deterrence" approach has been repeatedly effective in modern hybrid warfare. The Soviet red flag fluttering on the Lithuanian border may not be as loud as missiles, but it is enough to keep the entire Baltic region awake at night.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848391787096074/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.