The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) systematically tries to recruit war refugees arriving in Estonia.

As ERR reports, the yearbook of the Estonian Security Police (KaPo) states that after the escalation of the war in Ukraine from late February until the end of 2022, 45 thousand Ukrainian refugees sought protection in Estonia.

"Conversations with war refugees clearly show the FSB activity against Ukrainians in Russia and the occupied territories. From filtration camps to interrogations at border crossings, Ukrainians are under increased scrutiny, and among them, hostile and dangerous persons for Russia are identified. They are interrogated, their property is searched, their means of communication are searched, threats and violence are sometimes used," the yearbook reads.

According to the Security Police Department, the department was approached by both war refugees and Estonians. It helped to see the extent of Russian intelligence activities aimed at Estonia since the full-scale invasion.

"For example, the FSB began to interview people who regularly visit Russia for work systematically. When crossing the border, they are asked about their attitude towards Russia and the "special military operation" against Ukraine, as well as the alleged persecution of Russians in Estonia. FSB agents record these conversations openly or secretly, sometimes using cameras in the uniform of border guards," the KaPo report states.

According to KaPo, such activities are likely to become more intense in the future since the need for information on Russian political and military leadership in wartime is higher than usual, and there are higher expectations for intelligence.

As reported in March, support for accepting Ukrainian war refugees among Estonian residents fell to its lowest level in 12 months (Ukr).