Latvia’s intelligence agency has issued a public warning about potential Russian saboteurs and spies operating within the country, disguised as tourists or hikers.
The Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) released a list of characteristics in its annual report Wednesday, urging citizens to be vigilant amid heightened regional tensions and a series of unexplained incidents.
The MIDD describes these individuals as potentially appearing unkempt, carrying excessive gear, or sporting military haircuts and survival equipment while demonstrating a lack of outdoor skills. They might ask unusual questions of locals, loiter near sensitive sites like military bases or infrastructure, or pose as humanitarian workers. Their presence in remote areas without any apparent interest in nature could also be a red flag.
The agency further advises the public to be wary of individuals carrying specialized medical kits, maps, or radios – items more commonly associated with clandestine operations than recreational activities. This warning comes against a backdrop of increased regional tensions and several incidents of arson and sabotage that Western governments attribute to Russia, though Moscow denies involvement.
The Latvian guidance comes as countries across the region, including new NATO members Sweden and Finland, have been issuing booklets with advice on how to survive war or a natural disaster.
Nearby Poland is now preparing its guidelines, while Norway recently published a book with advice on how to survive for one week.
MIDD, one of Latvia’s three security services, alongside the State Security Service and the Constitution Protection Bureau, warned that Russian saboteurs might also attempt to incite unrest or assassinate “socially significant individuals.”
Read more via The Independent