TALLINN, Estonia, May 22, (AP): Perched on the open ramp at the rear of a British Chinook helicopter, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas flew home from the annual Spring Storm military exercises, pleased to see NATO allies cooperating. But she later said that other types of warfare were on her mind.
Her nation, which borders Russia, has seen a rise in sabotage, electronic warfare and spying - all blamed on Moscow.
As the war in Ukraine turns in Russia’s favor, defenses are being bolstered in the front-line nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as in Finland and Poland.
Kallas says Russia is carrying out a "shadow war” against the West.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda urged vigilance, saying Tuesday he had information that "acts of sabotage can happen again.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at least nine people were recently arrested on suspicion of beatings and arson, allegedly directed by Russia’s secret services, and described them as Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish nationals, some "from the criminal world.”
Not everyone sees the attacks as interconnected, Kallas told The Associated Press, despite NATO's assertion this month that Moscow is intensifying its campaign against the alliance from the Baltics to Britain. Russia dismissed that allegation.
Because many Russian intelligence operatives already are sanctioned, Western officials and experts say the Kremlin is shifting tactics, hiring others for hybrid operations - nonmilitary strategies including cyberattacks, election interference and disinformation, and attacks on foes of President Vladimir Putin.
With crucial elections in the West, officials say they believe the tempo of such activities will only increase, and some want tougher countermeasures.