Estonia Foils Russian Hybrid Operation, Arrests Made – Politico

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced that the country’s security services had thwarted a Russian hybrid operation resulting in damage to property and desecration of monuments. Individuals with dual Russian and Estonian citizenship were among the ten detained in connection to the operation. The Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) revealed that the Russian operation aimed to create fear and tension within Estonian society but ultimately failed. The ISS Director emphasized the role of social media in recruiting vandals and urged the public to report suspicious activities online. The Estonian foreign ministry will summon the Russian representative in response to Russia disputing the claims. In a related incident, an Estonian-Russian national was detained by the Latvian State Security Service for defacing a World War II monument, allegedly on behalf of Russian intelligence. These efforts by Estonia come amidst rising tensions with Russia, who has placed Estonian officials and Baltic MPs on a wanted list for their alleged actions.