Russia warns it will hit back at Lithuania's 'blockade' of Kaliningrad

　　On the 20th local time, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement protesting against Lithuania's ban on the transportation of goods to the Russian enclave Kaliningrad Oblast by railways in Lithuania, and warned that if Lithuania did not resume transportation, Russia would strike back.

　　The statement said that Lithuania prohibited the transportation of most types of goods to Kaliningrad Oblast via railways within Lithuania without prior notification to Russia, and Russia demanded that these restrictions be lifted immediately.

The Russian side believes that Lithuania's measures violate international legal obligations, especially the joint declaration signed by Russia and the European Union on the issue of transit between Kaliningrad Oblast and other territories of the Russian Federation.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova called the move an "open hostile act" and that unless Lithuania lifted the restrictions immediately, Russia reserved the right to "defend its national interests."

　　Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov also said on the same day that Lithuania's move is unprecedented and illegal, and Russia regards this as part of its blockade of Russia.

　　The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a diplomatic note to the Charge d'Affaires of Moscow in the country on the 20th, explaining the EU's sanctions on the transit of some goods between the Russian mainland and Kaliningrad, and stressed that passengers and goods not subject to EU sanctions can pass through its territory as usual.

　　Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Landsbergis said that the ban on transshipment of goods to the Russian enclave Kaliningrad through Lithuania was not a decision of Lithuania, but was made in accordance with EU sanctions against Russia.

　　Russian enclave Kaliningrad obstructed by Lithuanian railway embargo

　　Kaliningrad Oblast is a Russian enclave located between Poland and Lithuania, and Lithuanian Railways operates the only railway line connecting Kaliningrad to mainland Russia.

Since June 18, Lithuanian Railways notified Kaliningrad Railways to stop transiting some goods subject to EU sanctions.

　　In response to this situation, the Kaliningrad Oblast Government stated that goods subject to sanctions that prohibit transit through Lithuania will be redistributed and then transported by sea.