The Estonian Internal Security Service suggested that the hybrid operation was coordinated by Russian intelligence services to sow fear and tension in Estonian society.
The suspects performed different roles in Estonia depending on the instructions of their Russian supervisors. Some of them collected information, others planned attacks, which were then carried out. Agents were recruited through social media.
According to state prosecutor Triinu Olev, there are both Russian and Estonian citizens among the detainees. Some of them have two citizenships.
The country’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Estonia had “successfully stopped the hybrid operation of the Russian security services”.
