“Without concealing its involvement or fearing reputational damage, Russia openly sent migrants to the Estonian and Finnish borders,” the Estonian Internal Security Service said.
Russia will continue its attempts to worsen societal tensions in neighbouring countries, according to an annual report by Estonia’s Internal Security Service (ISS).
The agency’s report, published on Friday, also noted that Russia was directing citizens of third countries to apply for asylum in Finland, Estonia and several other nations in a so-called hybrid influencing strategy.
“Without concealing its involvement or fearing reputational damage, Russia openly sent migrants to the Estonian and Finnish borders. Russian border guards often instructed, directed and escorted groups of migrants. These migration attacks are designed to strain the receiving country’s border guard service and other state institutions, as well as to stir anxiety in society, incite extreme movements to react to news reports, and ultimately divide society,” the report read.
ISS further alleged that Russia had sought out Russians living in Finland to post videos on social media that express concern about the Nordic country closing its eastern border.
At least one such video went viral on an account belonging to a Russian travel blogger who had millions of subscribers, the agency said.
“Russia will likely continue its efforts to incite societal tensions in neighbouring countries in the coming years and can be expected to use any measures that stop short of triggering Nato’s collective defence clause,” the report stated.
The report also explained the circumstances surrounding the severing of communications cables in the Baltic Sea that were damaged under suspicious circumstances last autumn.