Latvian security service flags Kremlin narratives similar to pre-war Ukraine

Latvia’s counterintelligence service says Russia is increasingly portraying the country in ways that echo Kremlin narratives about Ukraine before the 2022 invasion.

A participant visits the ninth 'Industry Day of the Latvian Armed Forces' in Riga, Latvia, January 2026.

Photo: VALDA KALNINA/PAP/EPA

In its latest report, Latvian security officials say Russian state and pro-Kremlin media depict Latvia as russophobic and hostile to its Russian-speaking population.

Russian media also falsely portray Latvia as promoting extremist ideology, failing as a state, or acting under US influence, a portrayal likewise applied to Lithuania and Estonia.

According to the analysis, similar messaging was used against Ukraine in the years leading up to Russia’s full-scale invasion.

While Latvia is not currently a top priority for Moscow, the service warns that the growing hostility could, over time, lead to more aggressive actions, with Russia’s broader aim remaining the weakening of the West.

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Source: Polish Radio/IAR/vdd.gov.lv