Oidssalu: Russia's info attacks may escalate due to elections in Latvia and Estonia

Diplomats from the Baltic states visited the Russian Foreign Ministry to protest false claims spread by Russian authorities. Security expert Meelis Oidssalu stated in an interview with Estonian public television that Russia's information war has reached a new level of escalation.

Oidssalu noted that Russian information attacks often intensify against the backdrop of military difficulties, and now the Kremlin must also explain events to its own citizens. According to him, new attacks may be linked to upcoming parliamentary elections in Latvia and Estonia, where a significant Russian-speaking population resides.

Russia has recently accused the Baltic states of allowing Ukraine to use their airspace for drone attacks on Russian territory. The Russian Foreign Ministry also circulated statements claiming that the Baltic states are preparing mass deportations of Russian-speaking residents.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized that Russia is using diplomatic channels to create the impression that the Baltic states are dragging NATO into war against Russia. "This is just another attempt to sow confusion and disinformation. We will not allow that," Tsahkna said.

Meanwhile, intelligence services from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland see no signs that Russia is currently capable of organizing anything large-scale. Security expert Rainer Saks noted that despite an intensified information war amid the war in Ukraine, there are no indications that Russia is preparing military aggression against the Baltic states. Estonian security forces are ready for possible provocations.