NATO’s Lithuanian border with Russia where Ukraine war Z sign taunts West

EVERY morning the residents of this tiny border town wake up to the chilling knowledge that they are separated from Russia by just a 200-metre bridge. They live in fear as a giant painted “Z“ - the symbol of Vladimir Putin’s twisted war in Ukraine - leers at them from across the Nemunas River. And they tremble at the thought that one day their bridge will see tanks and soldiers streaming across - just like what happened last year in Ukraine. It is by strange quirks of geography and diplomacy as they find themselves a stone’s throw with Russia’s Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is an isolated stretch of land cut off from Russia and left sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. The region is heavily militarised, at its peak being home to more than 200,000 Russian soldiers. And so The Sun Online headed to the Lithuanian border town of Panemune - which has a population of less than 200. Read more: The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: Like The Sun on Facebook: Follow The Sun on Twitter: Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: