The Last Month of Autumn Was Surprisingly “Summery” in Terms of Coverage. According to a media analysis compiled by the Government Office, the final month of autumn saw a surprisingly low number of security and political stories related to Estonia in Western media—nearly four times fewer than usual. Half of the few articles that did appear were thanks to German media outlets.
Despite the low volume, the quality of coverage remained solid, effectively representing Estonia and its spokespersons. This was aided by official visits abroad (Prime Minister Kristen Michal in Germany and Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna in the U.S.) and participation in conferences (Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and Chief of the Defense Forces Andrus Merilo in Lithuania), during which several interviews were given.
In November, and continuing into December, international media focused primarily on the so-called 28-point Ukraine peace plan proposed by the United States. The initiative was perceived as rather shocking and anxiety-inducing by many in the media. The general narrative saw the plan more as a capitulation favoring the Kremlin than a balanced peace solution, although some analysts considered it a potential starting point for halting hostilities.
$500 Million Additional Contribution to Ukraine
Estonia received the most coverage in connection with the NB8 countries’ joint declaration of support for Ukraine. After a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries jointly reaffirmed their commitment to arming Ukraine, strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities, and supporting only those solutions that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and enhance regional security. Thematic interviews and statements (including on social media) by several Estonian officials (Michal, Tsahkna, Pevkur, among others) were frequently quoted in Western media.
The NB8 countries also received positive attention for their decision to contribute $500 million to the PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List). The Nordic and Baltic NATO countries are jointly funding U.S. arms deliveries to Ukraine to help Kyiv resist ongoing Russian aggression and to bolster European and transatlantic security. Through this initiative, U.S.-made weapons are purchased and delivered to Ukraine—an effort aligned with former President Trump’s request for Europe to take on a greater share of future U.S. military aid.
Numerous articles once again surfaced pushing the narrative that the Baltics, Estonia, or Narva might be the next targets. This was partly triggered by sabotage acts allegedly linked to Russia (e.g., on Polish railways). Several outlets also covered the Institute for the Study of War’s (ISW) analysis suggesting signs of preparations for a military conflict between Russia and the Baltic states. According to the analysis, Russia has launched a so-called “zero phase” involving information operations and narrative-building—similar to what occurred before the invasion of Ukraine.
Little Anti-Estonian Propaganda
A similar trend was observed on Russia’s side: in November, the volume of disinformation targeting Estonia dropped by 11% compared to October. The result is roughly 13% below the annual average. What most irritated propagandists and war criminals was Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna’s statement during his visit to China (suggesting that China could end the war in Ukraine), which was mockingly labeled an “ultimatum.”
Senator Grigory Karasin remarked that the minister’s condition at the time of the statement should have been thoroughly checked, as such an idea could only come from someone intoxicated, in his view.
Senator Aleksei Pushkov also made a mocking statement: “A minister from a country of 1.3 million people with a very small GDP decided to threaten even China. It sounds like this: if China wants to maintain good relations with Estonia, these issues must be resolved. That is, of course, a gem.”
The news that “Estonia’s Internal Security Service arrested blogger Oleg Bessedin for alleged anti-state activities and supplying content to sanctioned Russian media” also drew significant attention. In Russian media, the blogger was soon recast as a journalist, and the incident prompted an official response: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova labeled it a “witch hunt.”
“Unfortunately, in Estonia, persecution of Russian-speaking compatriots, journalists, bloggers, and public figures has become routine, with politically motivated arrests and fabricated criminal cases. The situation regarding Oleg Bessedin’s detention is no exception.”
Zakharova wasn’t only incensed by that. She also reacted to the reburial of sailors in Loksa, describing it as an “outrageous act of inhumanity” (in reality, the reburial was carried out properly): “Russia condemns the desecration of the remains of anti-fascist fighters by Estonia… this involved the excavation of Soviet sailors who fought in the Great Patriotic War and were buried in Loksa. This is a war against all that is human—against humanity and mankind—I mean historical memory. And it’s not just happening in Ukraine. The true battle for conscience is taking place in the Baltics.”
Propagandists also welcomed several news stories that seemed to support their narrative of the Baltic states’ economic collapse. For example, Politico reported that the EU is preparing financial aid measures for the Baltic countries, which have suffered from the sanctions imposed on Russia. Russian “experts” concluded from this that “the Baltic states and Finland could not withstand the anti-Russian sanctions.”
Every time news emerges that NATO fighter jets are conducting training flights over Estonia, dozens of propaganda outlets write about NATO’s unprecedented aggressiveness near Russian borders in recent years. They also highlight Moscow’s repeated concerns about the alliance’s military buildup in Europe. Additionally, they emphasize how “peace-loving” Kremlin representatives have stated multiple times that the Russian Federation threatens no one—but cannot ignore actions that may pose a threat to its interests.
