The Suwałki Gap, a narrow stretch of land between Poland, Lithuania, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, is often cited as a potential flashpoint. This episode explores the fears and concerns of residents in this region, examining how increased military presence and media narratives about potential conflict impact their lives. We hear from locals, security experts, military personnel, and government officials as they discuss the region’s security and the implications of Poland’s planned East Shield. The episode includes footage from the border region and insights from a NATO officer. Europe’s Borderline explores the complex realities and diverse perspectives in regions bordering Russia and Belarus. Through on-the-ground reporting and interviews, host Michał Kacewicz examines the security concerns, societal impacts, and resilience strategies of communities living in these critical areas.

Lithuania, like Poland’s Suwałki region, is a key transit area in the event of Russian aggression from Belarus toward Kaliningrad. This episode investigates the situation along the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. How safe do the residents of Vilnius and the surrounding region feel? How do they perceive the potential threat of Belarusian President Lukashenko? We look at how Polish communities near the border are navigating life alongside rising tensions, and feature interviews with Lithuanian politicians, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and local Polish populations.

Latvia faces potential threats from both its long border with Russia and internal divisions. This episode explores the complex relationship between Latvian society and its influential Russian-speaking minority. We travel to Riga, examining its diverse communities, and investigating the city’s attitude towards Russia. We look into the views of the local population, as well as exploring the work of a Polish military contingent stationed in the country as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence. This episode also covers the contrasting realities of Daugavpils, a city with a large Russian-speaking population near the Russian and Belarusian borders.

This episode focuses on Narva, an Estonian city located on the border with Russia with a predominantly Russian-speaking population. As the city is considered a potential target for Russian operations, we ask: how loyal are these residents to Estonia? We examine the countermeasures that the Estonian government employs against Russian disinformation and propaganda. The episode also includes discussions with Russian speakers with „grey passports,” Estonian politicians, and experts from the KaPo (Estonian Security Service) on their strategies for combating Russian influence.

As a new NATO member with a long history of conflict with Russia, Finland is uniquely positioned on Europe’s eastern frontier. This episode explores Finnish views on Russia, and how the country protects its long border. We look into Finnish Karelia, a region with a rich history of Finnish-Russian cooperation, now marked by rising tensions, as well as how Finnish society prepares for defense, from military service to civil defense. The episode also features interviews with former Prime Minister Sanna Marin, and other Finnish political figures discussing their historical perspectives on Russian-Finnish relations.