Russian intelligence services have stepped up their recruitment efforts in Latvia, primarily targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds to carry out sabotage operations. This was stated by Normunds Mežviets, head of the Latvian State Security Service (SSG), in an interview with Delfi.
According to the head of the Latvian intelligence service, Moscow is “desperately seeking” perpetrators among former prisoners, individuals previously involved in illegal activities, and drug addicts. These individuals are recruited either for monetary rewards or (less commonly) for ideological reasons.
“Russia is recruiting people with criminal backgrounds to gather intelligence and directly commit acts of sabotage,” Mežviets emphasized. “The main targets are critical infrastructure facilities, military installations, enterprises associated with support for Ukraine, and trucks with Ukrainian license plates.”
The head of the State Security Service noted that several incidents had already been recorded in Latvia in 2025, in which the involvement of Russian intelligence services could not be ruled out. Specifically, a group that had set fire to a company involved in defense projects was uncovered. The same individuals had planned attacks on Ukraine-linked vehicles and compiled lists of potential targets in the energy and military sectors.
Currently, four individuals (three Latvian citizens and one non-citizen) are in custody in the country, suspected of espionage and collecting information on civilian and military infrastructure, as well as on individuals supporting Ukraine.
Experts link this tactic to Russia’s broader campaign of hybrid actions in European countries, where individuals are recruited to commit arson, property damage, and other acts of sabotage, including through Telegram and TikTok—often from marginalized groups, the unemployed, and those with criminal records.
Russian officials traditionally deny any accusations of involvement in such actions, calling them “another Russophobic campaign.”
The Latvian State Security Service calls on citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious offers of “quick money” or contacts that may be linked to foreign intelligence agencies.