Latvian intelligence agencies have issued a warning to citizens about the potential presence of Russian spies and military assets. They provided a guide intended to help the population identify these operatives who might be blending into society.
In their annual report, the Baltic Sea defense intelligence agency and security services, known as MIDD, advised the nation of about 2 million on recognizing signs of Russian operatives lurking undetected. Some indicators that might suggest someone is not what they seem include a disheveled appearance and poor hygiene. Other suspicious behaviors mentioned are overly inquisitive conversations with locals and the presence of tourists equipped with extensive survival gear—like specialized medical kits, maps, and radios—despite lacking knowledge of the area.
MIDD, one of three security agencies in Latvia, mentioned that these clues could assist the public in identifying agents potentially scouting for critical infrastructure or military targets for malicious purposes.
The report also highlighted that Russian operatives have developed more sophisticated tactics in recent years, effectively disguising themselves, which complicates their detection.
“The situation in Ukraine indicates that Russian special services can adapt to their surroundings and the specific circumstances in which reconnaissance and provocateur groups operate,” MIDD noted. “Their operatives may not fit the typical visual profiles we expect.”
It was added that these agents can maintain a presence near sensitive locales and may pretend to be humanitarian workers or nature enthusiasts.
However, the agency cautioned against citizens taking vigilante actions against suspected spies, emphasizing the importance of leaving such matters to police and military authorities.
Latvian public broadcasters reported that similar guidance for spotting spies was given to the public two years ago, following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
With rising tensions with the West, European Union and NATO countries are on high alert for potential acts of sabotage from Russia, particularly in the wake of various cyberattacks and incidents involving damage to submarine cables, which have been attributed to Moscow—an accusation the Kremlin denies.
Recently, German federal prosecutors announced the arrest of three Ukrainians suspected of plotting a bomb attack in Germany as directed by the Russian state.
Last July, European security agencies were alerted to three separate explosions from packages sent from Lithuania, which detonated in Birmingham, Leipzig, and near Warsaw. The intelligence community remains skeptical about the motives behind Russian-designed attacks.
The latest incident in Germany has prompted calls from officials to bolster defenses against these hybrid threats.
Thomas Strobla, the German Home Minister in Baden-Württemberg, where one arrest occurred, likened the impact of this plot to that of a “tectonic earthquake.” He remarked, “We must adapt to a new risk environment. We are not at war, but we are not in a state of peace either.”
