Event 685

{
  "border_violation_countries": [
    "BSR"
  ],
  "category": "Political",
  "confidence": "Low",
  "confidence_rationale": "Multiple Estonian investigators and journalists cite direct connections to criminal proxies tied to Russian intelligence. The article presents photos of damage, names of suspects, and cites Estonian officials' statements.",
  "countries": [
    "Estonia",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "country": "Estonia",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "Estonian authorities have identified a group of individuals, allegedly connected to Russia’s military intelligence (GRU), orchestrating a series of attacks targeting vehicles and property in Estonia as part of Russia's hybrid operations.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-12-05T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Photographs of vandalized vehicles provided as evidence.",
    "Direct references to Estonian police investigations and arrests.",
    "Identification of suspected GRU facilitators behind the acts."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "\"A local criminal gang recently carried out vandalism attacks on dozens of cars owned by Ukrainian activists, journalists and politicians, as well as Estonian government officials.\"",
    "\"The network’s supervisors were Russian nationals living in Estonia and Finland, who in turn answered to the GRU.\"",
    "\"Estonian authorities have arrested several suspects who are now facing criminal charges.\"",
    "\"The attacks appear designed to sow fear and intimidation among Estonia’s Ukrainian community as well as critics of the Russian regime.\""
  ],
  "evidence_urls": [
    "https://theins.ru/en/politics/276891"
  ],
  "extra": {
    "category_raw": "Political Intimidation",
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "Photographs of vandalized vehicles provided as evidence.",
            "Direct references to Estonian police investigations and arrests.",
            "Identification of suspected GRU facilitators behind the acts."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "fifth_column_countries": [
    "EE"
  ],
  "follow_up_by_country": [
    {
      "country": "Estonia",
      "notes": "Estonian police arrested several suspects linked to Russian intelligence.",
      "status": "Arrest/Detention"
    }
  ],
  "follow_up_notes": "List of people targeted in ??Estonia to intimidate and spread fear published",
  "headline": "The GRU Vandals: Moscow's hired thugs are causing mayhem in Estonia",
  "location_text": "Estonia",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_685_1763934990_c951b883.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "List of people targeted in ??Estonia to intimidate and spread fear published",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "sources": [
    "https://theins.ru/en/politics/276891"
  ],
  "summary_short": "Moscow-linked operatives, allegedly acting for Russian military intelligence, are accused of carrying out coordinated vandalism and attacks on property in Estonia.",
  "url": "https://theins.ru/en/politics/276891"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "EE",
  "Attack Type": "Political Intimidation",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "BSR",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "EE",
  "Date": "5-Dec-24",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "https://theins.ru/en/politics/276891",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "List of people targeted in ??Estonia to intimidate and spread fear published",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "List of people targeted in ??Estonia to intimidate and spread fear published",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}