Estonia's Prime Minister Warns of Russia's 'Shadow War' and Calls for Western Vigilance

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas raises concerns over Russia's increasing sabotage, electronic warfare, and spying in Estonia and other frontline nations. Kallas urges Western allies to adopt tougher measures to combat Russia's nonmilitary hybrid operations.

Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, has issued a stern warning about Russia's escalating "shadow war" against Western nations, calling for increased vigilance and collective action. In an exclusive interview with Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin, Kallas voiced her concerns about the rising tide of sabotage, electronic warfare, and spying attributed to Moscow.

Kallas, who recently flew home from military exercises in a British Chinook helicopter, expressed gratitude for the cooperation among NATO allies but stressed that other forms of conflict remain a growing threat to her nation and others bordering Russia. Amidst Russia's recent gains in the war in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland have been fortifying their defenses.

Kallas believes Russia is carrying out a "shadow war" against the West, using covert tactics to undermine Western unity and support for Ukraine. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda echoed Kallas's concerns, urging vigilance against potential acts of sabotage. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported arrests on suspicion of beatings and arson allegedly directed by Russia's secret services, involving Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Polish nationals.

While some see the attacks as isolated incidents, Kallas emphasizes the interconnectedness of these actions, as asserted by NATO this month. Moscow dismisses the allegations, but Western officials and experts suggest the Kremlin is shifting tactics, hiring non-state actors for hybrid operations that include cyberattacks, election interference, and attacks on Putin's opponents.

Kallas cited an intelligence warning issued to a European country regarding a Russian military intelligence target. When a fire erupted at the warehouse two weeks later, officials suggested the possibility of Russian involvement. The prime minister emphasized the need for a "serious discussion of a coordinated approach" and questioned how far such actions on Western soil can be tolerated.

Estonia has taken the challenge of identifying and pursuing Russian agents of influence seriously, rebuilding its security services after regaining independence from the USSR in 1991. This year alone, Estonia has arrested a university professor for espionage, 13 individuals for attacks organized by Russian military intelligence, and disrupted flights between Finland and Tartu due to Russian GPS signal jamming.

Kallas advocates for increased information sharing, public awareness, and the recognition of these threats as interconnected. She points out that Estonia consistently apprehends more Russian agents per capita than other European nations, suggesting that other countries could enhance their efforts.

Former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves believes some nations hesitate to take decisive action due to hopes of future economic ties with Russia. He warns that such inaction encourages further aggression. As Russia outsources attacks to locals, often recruited through online platforms, the identification and tracing of these actions becomes more challenging.

Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev shared his experience of Russian outsourcing, where a former Austrian intelligence officer provided his address to Russian agents, leading to a break-in of his apartment and the theft of a laptop connected to his investigation into Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's poisoning. Grozev emphasizes the need for intelligence sharing between security services, police, and prosecutors, and suggests creating an international task force to combat foreign influence operations.

Estonia has proposed separate EU sanctions to counter hybrid threats, aiming to dissuade intermediaries and discourage younger Russians from joining security services. By exposing and sanctioning individuals involved in clandestine operations, Grozev believes Western nations can deter further aggression and promote accountability.

Russia's ultimate goal, according to Kallas, is to sow fear, break Western support for Ukraine, and ultimately dismantle the collective West. Estonia's Foreign Ministry secretary general, Jonatan Vseviov, elaborates that Putin seeks to undermine Western unity and destroy the functioning of the collective body.