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Intelligence warns of increasing non-military threats, including sabotage and disinformation campaigns
Estonia identified a record number of Russian collaborators during 2025, the Internal Security Service (KAPO) announced on Monday in its annual report.
According to the report, at least nine people were classified as “agents.” Authorities also revoked the residence permits of several clergymen with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church for security reasons. The total number of people identified as Kremlin collaborators, or detained and deported for promoting the Russian agenda, was not made public.
KAPO points out that non-military threats, such as sabotage, espionage and information campaigns, are becoming increasingly present. Activities range from fake bomb reports to virtual “attacks” on the Telegram platform.
The report particularly highlights disinformation campaigns targeting the border city of Narva, where the majority of the population is Russian-speaking. In recent weeks, an online campaign promoting the secession of Narva and the Ida-Viru region has attracted attention at home and abroad. Prime Minister Kristian Michal publicly opposed the move, calling it “an information operation created by Russia to foment discord.”
The report notes that the spread of these campaigns by mainstream media increases the credibility and reach of hostile messages.
Estonian intelligence services estimate that Russian intelligence operations are conducted largely remotely and often rely on the covert use of civilians. According to the report, Moscow has recruited pensioners to photograph damage to Soviet war monuments, material that has then been used in propaganda campaigns accusing Estonia of deliberate vandalism of historical heritage.
However, the increase in the number of detected cases does not necessarily mean increased Russian activity in the country. The report's authors emphasize that this reflects the preventive effectiveness of Estonia's internal security measures.
"The overall threat landscape has not changed. Estonia's main adversary remains the same – it has been, is and for the foreseeable future will continue to be Russia with its imperialist mindset," the report says.
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