Main narratives:
- Anti-Ukrainian narratives;
- General anti-government sentiments;
- Russophobic rhetoric;
- Anti-military comments.
Overview:
Last week, some social media users posted very ironic comments on military issues in Estonia, as two news items provoked some anti-Estonian sentiments among pro-Kremlin sympathizers in social media groups. The Estonian government announced snap military exercises, one part of which was NATO-led with international participation from the UK, France, the US and Latvia, and another part involving domestic reserve forces. Another widely circulated message announced an initiative by an Estonian private company to test and procure air-defence missiles for Ukraine against Russian aggression. Commentators criticised Estonia for increasing its defence spending and supporting Ukraine amid a worsening economic situation at home.
Throughout the week, users of pro-Kremlin groups on social media have been actively discussing the first actions of the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. At the beginning of the week, she visited Kyiv alongside the President of the European Council and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement. Echoing the narrative set by Russian propaganda outlets, pro-Kremlin commentators in Estonia began to push the idea that Kaja Kallas would harm EU policy in her new role. In addition, Kallas’s refusal to engage with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ meeting sparked negative reactions on social media. Her decision to sack Stefano Sannino, the secretary-general of the European External Action Service, was also heavily criticized.
