The head of Latvian intelligence has revealed that Belarus is reportedly training migrants in combat tactics before encouraging them to cross European Union borders.
Normunds Mežviets, Director of Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD), shared these claims in an interview with The Telegraph. He stated that migrants are being prepared for violent confrontations with border guards before being pushed toward Poland and the Baltic states.
In recent years, tens of thousands of migrants have entered the EU in what Western officials describe as part of an escalating hybrid warfare campaign orchestrated by Moscow.
Speaking from a secure bunker at his agency’s headquarters, Mežviets warned that Belarusian and Russian tactics have become increasingly aggressive. “I remember the early years—they were fairly calm—but over the last year, the situation has intensified,” he said.
Belarusian authorities have also reportedly developed methods to manipulate migrants before sending them to the border. One technique, described by Mežviets as an “information operation,” involves showing migrants fabricated videos portraying alleged victims of “violent and abusive border guards.” Analysts quickly identified these materials as fake.
“They show supposed injuries, but even without being a major expert, I can tell these are not real wounds,” Mežviets said. When asked if artificial intelligence was used to create the injuries, he dismissed it as “a poor and simple fabrication.”
However, officials now warn of a more serious threat. “We have received some intelligence that they are training them to be more violent,” Mežviets confirmed. While he declined to provide further details, he noted that Belarus has built infrastructure along the border, including storage facilities, accommodations, and recently, camps where migrants receive combat training.
Polish authorities have reported that underground tunnels have also been constructed along parts of the EU’s eastern border to facilitate crossings. “We have not yet seen tunnels ourselves, but from the start, we observed a massive buildup of Belarusian authorities, the KGB, and border guards openly promoting illegal migration,” Mežviets said.
The measures are viewed as a precursor to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, often interpreted as the beginning of a broader hybrid campaign against NATO. Reflecting on the tactics used, Mežviets added: “I understand how such operations could be conducted. If I ever have to respond, I will be better prepared.”
