Estonia says it thwarted record 16 Russian agents and collaborators last year

Estonia’s internal security service Kapo said it detected and disrupted the activities of 16 agents and collaborators of Russian intelligence services GRU and FSB last year, calling it a record figure over the years.

The report said this messaging focuses on claims of alleged persecution of Russians in Estonia and on the narrative that Western rearmament is aimed at attacking Russia.

FILE PHOTO: CC0

“Most of those caught were ordinary people, and their activities were thwarted at an early stage”, counterintelligence chief Margo Palloson said.

In its annual report published on Monday, Kapo said Russia remained the biggest long-term threat to Estonia’s security.

Palloson said authorities were currently seeing attempts along the Estonian-Russian border to recruit “one-timers” — operatives enlisted for a single task, such as vandalizing a monument or other symbolically important site — as well as online campaigns aimed at recruiting collaborators.

The report said Russian services also recruited minors in 2025 to carry out acts of sabotage.

According to Palloson, Russia is increasingly using social media to spread its narratives, with propaganda amplified by artificial intelligence.

The report said this messaging focuses on claims of alleged persecution of Russians in Estonia and on the narrative that Western rearmament is aimed at attacking Russia.

(jh)

Source: Polish Radio