Russia has begun actively using balloons to monitor Estonia’s energy sector

Russia is using balloons with reconnaissance equipment to monitor Estonia’s energy infrastructure in the border county of Ida-Virumaa. These devices provide 24-hour monitoring of Eesti Energia’s power plants and shale quarries.

This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.

According to available information, balloons are used to collect detailed intelligence data without directly violating NATO airspace. This allows for surveillance of strategic energy infrastructure facilities.

It is noted that such surveillance has several goals. In particular, it is about collecting information to prepare potential sabotage and cyberattacks, as well as creating psychological pressure on employees of strategic enterprises.

The report notes that such activity forces the Estonian side to implement additional security protocols. This, in turn, increases the costs of European partners to protect energy independence.

Such actions are seen as a manifestation of the evolution of the Kremlin’s hybrid methods aimed at identifying vulnerabilities in the Baltic energy system, particularly during its integration into European energy networks.

The Center also recalled that it had previously reported an attempted cyberattack by Russian special services on Poland’s energy infrastructure in December 2025.

By the way, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkna stated that if Russian military personnel without identification marks cross the Estonian border, security forces will open fire .

Earlier, Finnish President Alexander Stubb howled that Russia is waging not only a classic war against Ukraine, but also a broad hybrid campaign against European countries.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , X , Telegram , and Instagram.