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Record Arrests Reported in Estonia Over Alleged Russian Intelligence Links in 2025
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Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS/KAPO) reported a record number of arrests in 2025 involving individuals collaborating with Russian intelligence services, according to ERR on April 13.
16 people with ties to Russian special services were detained over the past year.
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Agency spokesperson Marta Tuul noted that because Russian intelligence cannot operate directly on Estonian soil, they have shifted their strategy to find "low-level" operatives to carry out specific tasks.
She emphasized that the high number of arrests demonstrates the failure of this approach, stating that Estonian officials are capable of identifying and capturing these individuals quickly.
Recruitment efforts often take place on social media, where Russian services look for random people to commit acts of vandalism. "In social networks, they try to find random perpetrators who would carry out acts of vandalism, for example, destroying or damaging the 'Blue Hills' (Sinimäed) memorials or committing other similar actions," Tuul said.
Traveling to Russia remains a significant risk for Estonian residents. Agents stationed at the border create profiles and vet individuals on-site, sometimes offering cooperation directly at border crossings.
Estonia has also taken steps to limit Russian influence by closing several state-aligned media outlets. In response, Russian influence operations have moved toward digital platforms.
"That is where attempts are made to create false narratives, as we have seen over the past year. For example, reports of schools being mined or a supposed attack on Narva. In Estonia, this has absolutely no real support or demand. They can try, but there is no basis or real content for it," Tuul added.
Last month, Estonian authorities deported a Russian citizen who had maintained contact with Russian intelligence services. This action followed a proposal from the Internal Security Service to remove the individual from the country.
In early 2026, an Estonian security guard Vyacheslav Efimov at the Koidula border crossing was sentenced to three years in prison for collaborating with the Russian FSB.
Vyacheslav Efimov, a dual citizen of Estonia and Russia, had spent over three years passing information about border operations and personnel movements to Russian intelligence.
Although he did not have access to classified government files, his reports helped the FSB identify security vulnerabilities and potential recruitment targets among the staff.
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