{"id":40723,"date":"2019-03-13T20:52:18","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T20:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/13\/estonian-intelligence-flags-russian-civilian-vessels-as-would-be-spy-ships\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:30:10","slug":"estonian-intelligence-flags-russian-civilian-vessels-as-would-be-spy-ships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2019\/03\/13\/estonian-intelligence-flags-russian-civilian-vessels-as-would-be-spy-ships\/","title":{"rendered":"Estonian intelligence flags Russian civilian vessels as would-be spy ships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLOGNE, Germany \u2014 Russian civilian vessels may be employed by Moscow to spy on critical military infrastructure of NATO members, according to a new report by an Estonian intelligence service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual assessment paints a picture of Russia ready to risk a large-scale war with NATO when any of its immediate neighbors, especially Belarus, are seen as getting too cozy with the West. According to the analysis, the Kremlin is equally jumpy when it comes to the Baltic states, considering the former Soviet-bloc countries as legitimate NATO targets in the event of an actual war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven though the likelihood of a worst-case scenario is slim, surprises arranged by its authoritarian regime cannot be excluded,\u201d the report by the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service states, referring to the Russian government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Estonian intelligence assessment asserts that Russian civilian vessels are widely used as fronts for national security missions. For example, it cites cases when Russian research ships were observed to be acting especially curious to explore areas where alliance military drills are held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAttempts to enter foreign territorial waters without permission, under the pretext of needing shelter from storm or technical repairs, are becoming more and more frequent,\u201d the document states. \u201cThis kind of behavior clearly stands out in comparison with other ordinary civilian vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t