VDD: russia Remains an Existential Threat to Latvia’s National Security

The Latvian State Security Service (Valsts Drošības Dienests, VDD) has published its annual report for 2025, in which it identifies the main threats to the country’s national security related to the activities of foreign intelligence services.

According to the agency’s assessment, their activities are systemic and aimed at undermining support for Ukraine, increasing distrust of state institutions, and preparing sabotage against critical infrastructure.

russia is classified as an existential threat in the report. The VDD records espionage, sabotage, and psychological influence operations, predicting an increase in their intensity in 2026. The practice of involving local individuals from the criminal milieu in subversive activities is pointed out separately.

According to VDD estimates, belarus acts as a supporting element of russian intelligence. Its territory and technical resources are used for radio-electronic intelligence against the Baltic states. The priorities include gathering information about NATO logistics, surveillance systems on the Latvian-Belarusian border, railway junctions, and energy facilities. An additional lever of pressure remains the instigation of the migration crisis.

The VDD emphasizes that the intensification of russian secret services in Latvia is part of the kremlin’s strategy to create permanent hotspots of tension on the borders of the EU and NATO, and the key goal of this activity remains the weakening of logistical and political support for Ukraine.