DISINFO: Estonia confirmed the effectiveness of Russian air strikes on Ukraine
SUMMARY
The head of Estonian military intelligence, Ants Kiviselg, admitted serious damage from Russian massive missile attacks on military targets in Ukraine, despite the fact that Kyiv always denies it. According to him, in recent weeks the Russian side has been actively using long-range bombers and Caliber missiles to strike Ukraine, which causes significant damage to military facilities.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This represents manipulation of data from foreign intelligence about the Russian war in Ukraine.
On January 12, 2024, the head of Estonian intelligence, Ants Kiviselg, commented on Russian massive air attacks on Ukraine, which became more frequent during the New Year holidays. Kiviselg said Russia's air strikes on Ukraine during the holidays "are a deliberate act by the Russians, apparently trying to undermine the will of the Ukrainian people to defend themselves."
The head of the intelligence centre of the Estonian Defence Forces noted that Russian tactics are still oversaturated with various types of missiles and drones, which simultaneously attack Ukrainian territory from different directions. Kiviselg did not say whether Russian missiles and drones reached their intended targets in Ukraine.
The wave of air attacks on December 29, 2023 and January 2, 2024 according to Estonian intelligence services, also shows Russia’s fear of the F-16 fighters, which the allies will transfer to Ukraine in 2024. Therefore, Ants Kiviselg believes, Russia has intensified shelling of Ukrainian ports, electrical and railway infrastructure, military airfields, weapons depots, and military training facilities.
The head of Estonian intelligence added that more massive Russian missile attacks are expected in the near future. Kiviselg noted that Russia's ongoing tactic is to suppress Ukrainian air defence.
Read other similar cases: Pumping Ukraine with weapons is dangerous, leads to further destabilisation; The US delivery of depleted uranium shells to Ukraine is an escalation and a criminal act; Delivering US-made F-16 aircrafts to Ukraine is an escalation.
Also see previous disinformation narratives in our database alleging that Russia does not target civilian buildings, Russia strictly observes humanitarian law and only hits military targets, Russian forces are not attacking civilian targets.