Russia is recruiting residents of the Baltic countries for information operations related to the war in Ukraine
Russia has stepped up information operations in the Baltic states, Latvia and Estonia have warned, stating that Russia is recruiting residents to spread Moscow's narrative of danger to Russian-speaking communities, one of Moscow's reasons for invading Ukraine, Euromaidan press reports.
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Russia's secret service is turning to messaging apps, fringe citizen activists traveling abroad, informal networks and online content creators for its influence work in Europe, an investigation by Latvia's De facto shows.
Estonian authorities detained videographer Oleg Besedin in early November, accusing him of receiving direct instructions about what political content to promote. His videos featured pro-Kremlin figures amplifying accusations of discrimination against Russian speakers in Europe.
Narratives used by Russia to justify the invasion of Ukraine
Latvian prosecutors filed charges against Latvian activist Aleksandrs Gaponenko, who suggested at an online conference hosted by the Moscow-based “Institute for the CIS Countries” that Russia should prepare the ideological grounds for a future “humanitarian intervention” in the Baltic states.
According to assessments by security agencies in Latvia and Estonia, the spread of these narratives are part of a larger Russian effort to portray the Baltic governments as hostile to Russian speakers.
Recruits are paid in cash, but also in cryptocurrencies
Russia is recruiting especially on Telegram and TikTok. According to the Latvian State Security Service, Russia uses state-backed foundations and informal payment routes, including cash and cryptocurrencies, to pay pro-Kremlin activists.
Latvian investigators also reported cases where Russian services sent instructions through networks of Telegram channels for small-scale actions inside Latvia, such as distributing hostile leaflets or texts made to appear to be written by Ukrainians.
Typical recruits are young people or people without stable incomes who act motivated by pay rather than ideology. The payments vary between 15 and 500 euros, according to prosecutors.
Baltic authorities are issuing a warning: Russia's information operations are becoming layered, local and persistent, and will continue to target vulnerable groups as long as they reap the benefits of these influence campaigns.
