Russia Intensifies Campaign Against Narva: Networks Call for Arming and Creating a "People's Republic"

Poster in Narva. Photo: Dmitry Fyodotkin / ERR

In recent weeks, this campaign has spread across Russian-language social networks. They feature calls for the creation of a separatist entity in Narva — a city in eastern Estonia with a population of about 50,000, located on the border with Russia, writes LRT.

About 90% of the city's residents speak Russian, which makes Narva an important target for information operations aimed at Russian-speaking communities.

According to Estonian intelligence, these messages could be an attempt to form a narrative similar to that used before the Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Calls to Arm

Since early March, messages have been spreading on Telegram and VKontakte calling on supporters of the "Russian world" to distribute leaflets, carry out acts of sabotage, and arm themselves. Residents are urged to declare a "Narva People's Republic" and defend it with weapons against Estonian authorities, counting on the support of the Russian army.

Some messages use slogans like "Russians, we are not alone!", and videos show masked individuals calling on supporters to "act together."

Estonia Calls This an Information Attack

Estonian authorities state that this activity resembles an influence operation more than a real social movement.

Marta Tuule, a representative of the Estonian Security Police (KAPO), noted that these posts are part of a disinformation campaign aimed at creating confusion and weakening social cohesion. She also warned of criminal liability for participating in such provocations.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called on residents to remain calm.

"Narva will always be an Estonian city. These pathetic attempts to cause confusion and weaken social cohesion are primitive and not new. We have seen this tactic from Russia before, in Estonia and elsewhere," the minister wrote on X.

Concerns Amid Geopolitical Context

An Estonian intelligence source told BILD newspaper that the timing of the campaign is likely not accidental: "It's no coincidence that this is starting now, when the world's attention is focused on Iran."

It is not yet clear what the ultimate goal of this narrative is, but intelligence does not rule out that it could be preparation for a potential Russian invasion following the 2014 model.

Since February 2022, 151 incidents related to sabotage, arson, attempted explosions, and other hybrid threats have been recorded here.

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