Geography
Kaliningrad
In News: Moscow warned Lithuania of serious consequences over its restriction of rail traffic to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave
- Lithuania says it is simply adhering to EU-wide sanctions on Moscow
Kaliningrad
- Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
- It was captured by Soviet troops from Nazi Germany in April 1945 and then became part of Soviet territory as a result of the Potsdam Agreement.
- It was renamed from the German Konigsberg in 1946
Importance of Kaliningrad
- Kaliningrad is the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea that is ice-free year round and is an important launch point for the nation’s naval fleet.
- Its strategic location prevents ships from having to circumnavigate Scandinavia by way of a northern passage, traveling through the Arctic Ocean.
Source: The Hindu
