Latvian Security Service reports Russia attempts recruitment and training of individuals for hostile activities in Latvia

Intelligence & EspionageHuman Intelligence (HUMINT)Recruitment of locals

AggressorDefense

Summary

On March 11, 2024, Latvian Security Service revealed Russian efforts to recruit and train persons for malicious activities within Latvia, aimed at destabilizing the country.

On March 11, 2024, the Latvian Security Service (Drošības dienests) publicly disclosed that Russian intelligence is actively attempting to recruit and train people in Latvia for conducting hostile and destabilizing activities. These efforts include gathering informants and promoting anti-state operations. According to the Security Service, such recruitment tactics aim to undermine Latvian sovereignty and security. The report highlights that operatives use various coercive and manipulative methods to convince potential recruits. This development is part of an ongoing pattern of Russian hybrid warfare against Baltic states. The Latvian authorities continue to monitor and counteract these espionage and counterintelligence threats closely.

Classification

Confidence: High

The article explicitly describes Russian intelligence recruitment efforts targeting Latvia which constitutes a clear aggressor action. The Latvian Security Service's disclosure and ongoing monitoring reflect defense preparation against these hostile activities. The source is an official Latvian government agency, providing verified information on hybrid warfare threats.

Source URL

https://lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/11.03.2024-drosibas-dienests-krievija-censas-vervet-un-apmacit-personas-kaitnieciskam-darbibam-latvija.a546243

Open source

Provenance

Publisher: csv-import
Submitted: Feb 1, 2026, 00:14 UTC
Last updated: Nov 4, 2026, 08:35 UTC
Event time: Mar 11, 2024, 12:00 UTC

Published as a Defense Preparations signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.

Raw record

{
  "id": "10196d9a-2376-4e1a-b815-a9835628aa03",
  "url": "https://lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/11.03.2024-drosibas-dienests-krievija-censas-vervet-un-apmacit-personas-kaitnieciskam-darbibam-latvija.a546243",
  "source": "csv-import",
  "status": "approved",
  "category": "Intelligence & Espionage",
  "subcategory": "Human Intelligence (HUMINT)",
  "incident_type": "Recruitment of locals",
  "country": "Latvia",
  "source_reliability": "C",
  "info_credibility": "3",
  "tags": [
    "Latvia",
    "Russia",
    "Espionage",
    "Recruitment",
    "Hostile activities",
    "Hybrid warfare",
    "Security Service",
    "Counterintelligence"
  ],
  "nodes": [],
  "countries": [
    "Latvia"
  ],
  "where_text": "Land",
  "headline": "Latvian Security Service reports Russia attempts recruitment and training of individuals for hostile activities in Latvia",
  "description": "The Latvian Security Service warned that Russia is trying to recruit and train individuals within Latvia for damaging activities that threaten national security. These actions are intended to destabilize the internal political and social situation in Latvia. The recruitment involves coercion and manipulation to turn some locals into intelligence assets or proxies. Latvia remains vigilant against these hostile intelligence operations and continues its counterintelligence efforts to protect sovereignty.",
  "summary_short": "On March 11, 2024, Latvian Security Service revealed Russian efforts to recruit and train persons for malicious activities within Latvia, aimed at destabilizing the country.",
  "summary_extended": "On March 11, 2024, the Latvian Security Service (Drošības dienests) publicly disclosed that Russian intelligence is actively attempting to recruit and train people in Latvia for conducting hostile and destabilizing activities. These efforts include gathering informants and promoting anti-state operations. According to the Security Service, such recruitment tactics aim to undermine Latvian sovereignty and security. The report highlights that operatives use various coercive and manipulative methods to convince potential recruits. This development is part of an ongoing pattern of Russian hybrid warfare against Baltic states. The Latvian authorities continue to monitor and counteract these espionage and counterintelligence threats closely.",
  "actor_primary": "Russian intelligence operatives",
  "target_primary": null,
  "location_text": null,
  "location_region": "",
  "location_coordinates_lat": null,
  "location_coordinates_lon": null,
  "location_precision": "Regional",
  "is_aggressor_signal": true,
  "signal_type": "DEFENSE_PREP_SIGNAL",
  "is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
  "classification_complete": true,
  "hybrid_signal_complete": true,
  "classification_confidence": "High",
  "classification_rationale": "The article explicitly describes Russian intelligence recruitment efforts targeting Latvia which constitutes a clear aggressor action. The Latvian Security Service's disclosure and ongoing monitoring reflect defense preparation against these hostile activities. The source is an official Latvian government agency, providing verified information on hybrid warfare threats.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-03-11T12:00:00.000Z",
  "end_time_utc": null,
  "event_time_confidence": "unknown",
  "created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:24.253Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T08:35:32.139Z",
  "reliability_band": "strong",
  "location_precision_band": "regional",
  "time_precision_band": "unknown",
  "severity_band": "moderate",
  "attribution_confidence_band": "high",
  "attribution_basis": "single_source"
}

Public assessmentReliability: StrongSeverity: ModerateAttribution: HighSingle sourceTime: UnknownLocation: Regional

Source reliability

Info credibility

Event time

Mar 11, 2024, 12:00 UTC

Event time confidence

unknown

Location

Land

Primary actor

Russian intelligence operatives

Country

Latvia

Countries

Latvia

Tags

Latvia, Russia, Espionage, Recruitment, Hostile activities, Hybrid warfare, Security Service, Counterintelligence

Loading signal...

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