Newsflash

Poland responds to “suspicious manoeuvres” by Russian ship near undersea cable

Rank: 87

Poland’s military intervened after a Russian ship, part of a sanctioned "shadow fleet," was observed acting suspiciously near an undersea electricity cable connecting Poland and Sweden in the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the Polish military conducted "effective deterrence," prompting the ship to retreat to a Russian port. A Polish navy survey vessel, ORP Heweliusz, was dispatched to inspect the seabed for potential damage. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed the incident occurred on Tuesday and involved a tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, which uses evasive tactics to bypass sanctions. While the activity took place outside Polish territorial waters, it occurred near critical infrastructure owned by Poland’s state electricity operator. The defence minister noted that Poland had alerted its NATO allies and that an emergency meeting was scheduled to address the situation. This incident follows NATO’s recent launch of a Baltic Sea mission to protect undersea infrastructure, a response to previous sabotage incidents. The article also highlights the independent, donation-funded nature of the reporting outlet, Notes from Poland.

Lithuania sues Belarus over migrant crisis

Rank: 80

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the country has filed a lawsuit against Belarus at the International Court of Justice, accusing the regime of Alexander Lukashenko of violating international law by orchestrating a migrant crisis. The legal action highlights Lithuania’s stance that Belarus has deliberately facilitated the influx of migrants as part of a broader strategy, leading to significant humanitarian and security challenges. The complaint underscores the alleged breaches of international obligations by Belarus, marking a formal escalation in the diplomatic dispute between the two nations.

Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1183:  Russian soldiers wiped out after faking “major breakthrough” in Ukraine

Rank: 78

The article provides a comprehensive update on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as of May 21, 2025. Russian forces reportedly attempted a breakthrough into Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, but Ukrainian officials claim the troops were eliminated. Meanwhile, Ukraine warns of a new Russian troop buildup near the Kharkiv border. On the frontlines, a Russian soldier was killed by a drone strike after a failed bike jump near Pokrovsk. Additionally, a Russian missile strike targeted Ukrainian soldiers in Shostka, with conflicting casualty reports—Russia claims 70 deaths, while Ukraine reports six killed and ten injured. Ukrainian drones also damaged a Russian military electronics plant producing components for electronic warfare.

The article details Russia’s military losses since the invasion, including nearly one million personnel, over 10,000 tanks, and thousands of other vehicles and equipment. In technological developments, Russia’s fiber-optic drones have destroyed several Ukrainian HIMARS launchers, prompting Ukrainian engineers to develop countermeasures. The EU has delivered two-thirds of its promised artillery shells to Ukraine, while Russia relies on North Korean supplies. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine and Russia must resolve the conflict independently, prioritizing future trade with Moscow over sanctions.

Politically, a former Ukrainian official with Russian ties, Andrii Portnov, was shot dead in Spain. Portnov, linked to ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, faced U.S. sanctions and Ukrainian treason investigations. The article underscores the escalating military, technological, and political dimensions of the war.

Poland protests Russia’s removal of crosses from cemetery of Polish victims of Soviet massacres

Rank: 78

Poland has strongly condemned the removal of Polish military symbols from a war cemetery in Mednoye, Russia, where around 6,300 Polish officers killed in the 1940 Katyn massacres are buried. The symbols, including the Virtuti Militari cross and the September 1939 Campaign cross, were removed on orders from Russian state prosecutors, who cited a law promoting the Soviet narrative that World War II began in 1941, ignoring the Soviet Union's earlier alliance with Nazi Germany and their joint invasion of Poland in 1939. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called the act state-sponsored vandalism and vowed to defend the crosses, rejecting what he termed "Russian historical lies." The Polish foreign ministry accused Russia of distorting history and suggested the move was an attempt to interfere in Poland's presidential elections, though no further explanation was provided. The ministry also criticized the Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) for not reacting, while the IPN responded that the government, not the institute, is responsible for the cemetery's upkeep. This incident follows previous disputes, including the removal of Polish flags from the cemetery in 2022 and Poland's recent closure of Russian consulates in response to alleged Russian sabotage activities. The broader context involves ongoing tensions over historical narratives, with Poland repeatedly challenging Russia's revisionist accounts of World War II.

Polish steelworkers protest against EU climate policies

Rank: 78

Steelworkers in Poland staged a large protest in Warsaw against European Union climate policies, particularly the Green Deal, which they argue threatens their industry’s survival. Organized by Solidarity, Poland’s largest trade union, the demonstrators accused the Polish government of neglecting their interests. Protesters chanted slogans against the Green Deal, citing rising energy costs—up 80% in five years—and mass layoffs, with 1,200 steelworkers fired since 2023. Their demands include capping electricity prices at €60 per megawatt-hour, halting layoffs, revising the Green Deal’s emission trading system, and protecting the EU market from cheaper non-EU steel imports. Union leaders, including Solidarity’s head Piotr Duda, criticized Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government for inaction, noting that Poland’s steel industry has shrunk from 154,000 workers in the 1990s to just 21,000 today. The protest reflects broader discontent among energy-intensive industries, with Solidarity pushing for a national referendum on the Green Deal. Meanwhile, the government has announced plans for a steel industry sustainability plan and seeks EU-level aid for energy-intensive sectors, though critics argue it has failed to advance Poland’s transition from coal. The protest underscores growing tensions between climate policies and industrial workers’ livelihoods.

Poland extends ban on asylum claims at Belarus border

Rank: 78

Poland’s parliament has overwhelmingly voted to extend the suspension of asylum rights for migrants crossing from Belarus, a measure initially introduced in March under a law allowing the government to restrict asylum claims in response to what it describes as "instrumentalized migration" by Belarus and Russia. The extension, approved by 366 votes with only 17 against, was supported by nearly all political groups except the left-wing parties, including The Left (Lewica) and Together (Razem), which argued that asylum is a fundamental right despite acknowledging the hybrid warfare tactics employed by Belarus. The law permits the government to suspend asylum claims for 60-day periods, with extensions requiring parliamentary approval, and includes exemptions for vulnerable groups such as minors, pregnant women, and those at risk of harm if returned.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the measure, blaming the previous government for failing to address illegal migration and asserting that Poland will not comply with EU migration policies that mandate forced acceptance of migrants. While the European Union’s migration commissioner supported Poland’s stance, calling it a necessary defense against "weaponized migration," human rights organizations, including the UNHCR and Poland’s human rights commissioner, have condemned the suspension as a violation of international and constitutional law, warning of harm to asylum seekers. The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights criticized the government for ignoring the humanitarian crisis at the border, citing deaths and violence against migrants. Despite opposition from left-wing factions and some centrist MPs, the measure reflects broad political consensus on tightening border controls amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Poland and Ukraine sign cooperation agreement

Rank: 78

Poland and Ukraine have signed a cooperation agreement on regional policy aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and supporting Ukraine’s EU accession process. The deal, signed by Poland’s Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, and Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction, Oleksiy Kuleba, includes several key provisions. Poland will assist Ukraine in its EU negotiations and help Polish companies participate in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, while Ukraine will share its expertise in civilian protection infrastructure and regional resilience with Poland. The agreement also involves Poland supporting Ukraine in developing efficient systems for managing EU funds and investments at national, regional, and local levels. Additionally, Ukraine will adopt Polish and European institutional and market rules to facilitate business and administrative cooperation. This partnership reflects Poland’s strong support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, including previous security agreements and discussions on forming a "Ukrainian legion" of Ukrainians in Poland. The collaboration underscores the strategic and economic ties between the two nations amid ongoing regional challenges.

Revolut opening second base in France

Rank: 78

Revolut, a British finance company with a banking license in Lithuania, has announced plans to establish a dual-base operational model by opening a new office in Paris to serve Western Europe. The company emphasized that Lithuania will remain a crucial hub for its European growth, and the new structure will not impact its existing operations there. The French entity will initially focus on providing services to clients in several Western European countries, with plans to expand to Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Italy once a French banking license is secured. Meanwhile, services for the remaining 24 countries in the European Economic Area will continue to be managed from Lithuania. Revolut has already set up branches in Lithuania and intends to open more across Europe in the coming months. The company aims to surpass 100 million customers globally in the next few years, building on its current base of over 55 million, including 40 million in Europe. Financially, Revolut reported a net profit of EUR 934 million in the past year, a 2.4-fold increase from 2023, with group revenues rising by 72% to EUR 3.7 billion.

Germany’s Pistorius unveils roadmap to achieve planned 5% NATO target

Rank: 78

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius presented a plan to meet a potential new NATO defence spending target, proposing that Germany increase its military expenditure by 0.2 percentage points of GDP annually over seven years. This would raise Germany’s defence spending from the current 2.1% to 3.5% of GDP by 2032, aligning with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s proposed target for ordinary military spending, which exceeds the existing 2% goal. Additionally, Rutte suggested a separate 1.5% target for defence-related infrastructure, such as railways and ports, bringing the combined spending goal to 5%—a figure advocated by US President Donald Trump. The new target is expected to be finalized at the NATO summit in The Hague in June. Pistorius emphasized that the focus is on gradually enhancing NATO’s military capacity rather than achieving the 5% target immediately. The financial commitment would be substantial, with Germany potentially using a €500 billion fund to support infrastructure spending. Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that 5% of Germany’s GDP would amount to €225 billion in defence expenditure.

Rēzekne council dismissal was just, says Constitutional Court

Rank: 72

The Constitutional Court ruled that a democratic state governed by the rule of law must take necessary measures to prevent local government actions that harm the legal interests of residents and society. This judgment stemmed from a case challenging the constitutionality of laws related to the dismissal of the Rēzekne Municipal Council and its election process, initiated by the council itself after a majority of its dismissed members voted to appeal. The court found that the Rēzekne City Council had repeatedly violated budgetary regulations over an extended period, particularly in drafting and approving the 2023 and 2024 budgets. These violations included exceeding available financial resources and delaying a state loan, which increased the risk of further financial losses. Given the severity and cumulative nature of these breaches, the Constitutional Court determined that the violations justified the dismissal of the municipal council.

Lithuanian working group preparing Rail Baltica completion plan

Rank: 70

Lithuania’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications has formed a working group to oversee the continued development of the Rail Baltica railway project. This group, established by Minister Eugenijus Sabutis, includes representatives from the ministry, Lithuanian Railways, its subsidiary LTG Infra, and RB Rail, the pan-Baltic joint venture managing the project. Their task is to create a plan ensuring the completion of the Lithuanian segment by the end of 2028, with the finalized action plan to be presented to the government’s strategic project portfolio commission in June. Currently, a 46.3-kilometer section from Kaunas to Panevezys is under construction, with expectations to expand to 114 kilometers of track by the end of the year. The broader Rail Baltica initiative, which aims to connect the Baltic States with Europe, is set for full completion by 2030, while the Lithuania-Poland link is targeted for completion by 2028.

Latvia First, New Unity have spent the most ahead of local elections

Rank: 40

During the pre-election campaign period in Latvia, several political parties and alliances have signed financial agreements for their campaigns, with varying amounts allocated. LPV secured the highest funding at EUR 339,551, followed by JV with EUR 211,380, the Latvian Green Party with EUR 172,957, and other parties receiving progressively smaller sums. Financial regulations impose spending limits on political advertising, charity, sponsorship, benefits, and gifts, though expenses for advertising production and campaign planning are exempt. The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) clarifies that these limits cover both party-wide and individual candidate expenses. For parties or coalitions running nationwide, the maximum allowable spending is capped at EUR 869,640. The pre-election campaign period for the local elections commenced on 8 February and will conclude on election day, 7 June.

Latvian day at EXPO 2025 proves popular

Rank: 40

Latvia celebrated its National Day at EXPO 2025 with a joint pavilion alongside Lithuania, highlighting the country's innovative achievements and fostering economic diplomacy. President Edgars Rinkēvičs opened the event, praising the collaboration with Japan and Osaka for organizing the exhibition, which showcases Latvia's environmentally friendly advancements and opens doors for new partnerships. The National Day featured a multimedia performance titled "ECHO / ATBALSS," blending music, dance, and visuals to depict Latvia's cultural story through daily cycles and seasons. Created by Latvian and Japanese artists, the performance emphasized the harmonious coexistence of nature, technology, traditions, and innovation, revealing surprising cultural similarities between the two nations. The event attracted 200,000 visitors to the Baltic Pavilion and included a business forum focused on sustainable technological development, mobility, and smart infrastructure. A key highlight was the signing of a cooperation agreement between Latvia's FORTES and Japan's Ichigo ECO Energy to build five biomass cogeneration plants in Japan, utilizing Latvian wood gasification technology and ensuring long-term support for their operation.