RIA Novosti floats 'short SVO' against Lithuania, escalating rhetoric

Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti published and subsequently removed an article by a Valdai Club co-founder suggesting a 'short SVO' against Lithuania, explicitly referencing nuclear-capable missiles without ground forces. This marks a significant, albeit retracted, escalation in official Russian rhetoric toward a NATO member, signaling potential intent to test NATO resolve while maintaining plausible deniability. The incident's status as official signaling versus an editorial trial balloon remains unclear.