Event 926

{
  "attack_type": "Sabotage",
  "category": "Kinetic",
  "confidence": "High",
  "countries": [
    "Estonia",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "country": "Estonia",
  "description": "In Estonia, authorities uncovered plans by pro-Kremlin politicians to establish a parallel \"self-defense\" unit supported by Russian military intelligence (GRU). The scheme was led by Aivo Peterson and Dmitry Rootsi starting in 2022, backed by the Koos movement, seeking to create a civil defense force to assume military functions during a crisis or power vacuum. Correspondence showed contacts authorized with the Russian GRU for instructions and aid. Despite public claims of humanitarian intent, the prosecution argues this was an attempt to form an alternative defense structure under Russian influence. The court case began in November 2023 and is nearing completion, with prosecutors demanding prison terms up to 17 years for treason.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-05-27T10:48:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "https://militarnyi.com/en/news/planned-self-defense-unit-in-estonia-supported-by-russia/",
    "In Estonia, authorities uncovered plans by pro-Kremlin politicians to establish a parallel defense structure with support from Russian military intelligence.",
    "Peterson and Roots authorized the establishment of contacts with representatives of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) to receive instructions and assistance in forming the unit.",
    "Peterson himself worked in the police for over ten years, so he was well aware that national defense is an exclusive prerogative of the state.",
    "Last week, Triinu Olev-Aas demanded that Aivo Peterson be found guilty of treason and sentenced to 17 years in prison."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "evidence": [
          "https://militarnyi.com/en/news/planned-self-defense-unit-in-estonia-supported-by-russia/",
          "In Estonia, authorities uncovered plans by pro-Kremlin politicians to establish a parallel defense structure with support from Russian military intelligence.",
          "Peterson and Roots authorized the establishment of contacts with representatives of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) to receive instructions and assistance in forming the unit.",
          "Peterson himself worked in the police for over ten years, so he was well aware that national defense is an exclusive prerogative of the state.",
          "Last week, Triinu Olev-Aas demanded that Aivo Peterson be found guilty of treason and sentenced to 17 years in prison."
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "location_text": "Estonia",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "summary_extended": "Estonian prosecutors revealed that in 2022, pro-Kremlin politicians Aivo Peterson and Dmitry Rootsi began forming a parallel civil defense unit aimed to operate as an alternative military force in Estonia during a crisis or power vacuum. The group, supported by the Koos movement, sought assistance and directives from the Russian military intelligence agency GRU. Publicly framed as humanitarian, evidence presented in court shows the plan was intended as a shadow defense structure undermining Estonia's sovereignty. Peterson, a former police officer aware of the state's exclusive right to national defense, is charged with treason, with prosecutors seeking a 17-year prison sentence. Dmitry Rootsi and Andrey Andronov face additional charges. The trial, initiated in late 2023, is in its final stages with closing hearings scheduled for June 2025. This exposes an ongoing covert hybrid warfare effort by Russia to destabilize NATO member Estonia from within.",
  "summary_short": "Estonian authorities expose plans by pro-Russian actors to create a parallel defense unit with GRU support, leading to treason charges.",
  "url": "https://militarnyi.com/en/news/planned-self-defense-unit-in-estonia-supported-by-russia/"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "EE",
  "Attack Type": "5th column / political disruption",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "EE",
  "Date": "27-May-25",
  "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://militarnyi.com/en/news/planned-self-defense-unit-in-estonia-supported-by-russia/",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "??Estonian prosecutors uncover ??pro-Kremlin plan for alternative defense unit",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "Prosecutors detailed plan by ??Koos-linked actors Peterson & Rootsi to create ??Kremlin-backed  defense unit  to replace state security forces.",
  "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)": ""
}