Insight News Media published the investigation.NarvaNews, launched in 2024, presents itself as a neutral local news source for Estonia's Russian-speaking population but systematically promotes messaging aligned with Russian state interests, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine and Estonian domestic politics.The outlet targets Narva, a city of 54,000 located closer to St. Petersburg than to Estonia's capital Tallinn, where 95% of residents are Russian speakers. Despite claiming to serve this local audience, traffic data reveals 83% of NarvaNews visitors are actually based in Russia, with only 11% in Estonia. The site's primary traffic sources include Google searches and VK, a Russian social media platform frequently used to disseminate state-approved narratives.NarvaNews content consistently echoes core Kremlin propaganda themes, routinely referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation" and portraying Ukraine's elected leadership as "illegitimate" or part of a "Kyiv regime." Articles amplify Vladimir Putin's positions on peace negotiations while arguing that Estonia "must stop supporting Ukraine" because "aid to Ukraine ruins the economy."The outlet dedicates extensive coverage to attacking former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who now serves as the European Union's foreign policy chief. Articles portray Estonia as an aggressor and accuse the government of economic collapse and discrimination against Russian speakers, reinforcing long-standing Kremlin narratives about Baltic states oppressing Russian-speaking minorities.In one striking example, NarvaNews profiled a former Estonian NATO cadet who "volunteered" to join Russian forces in Ukraine, presenting participation in the invasion as noble and justified. "An Estonian citizen, trained to NATO standards, voluntarily joined the Russian forces and fought in the zone of Special Military Operation," the article stated.The site's influence extends beyond its direct readership through systematic amplification by major Russian propaganda networks. Stories from NarvaNews are regularly cited by RT, Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov's Telegram channel, and Russian nationalist news websites, which present the outlet as a "local Estonian source" to legitimize anti-Estonian narratives.Russian state media have recycled NarvaNews stories on topics designed to inflame ethnic tensions, including "Killing Russians is a dream job," which sparked debate in Estonia, and "Hunt for Soviet symbols," portraying Estonia as hostile to Russian culture.Estonia has blocked major Russian propaganda channels including RT, Sputnik, and numerous other Kremlin-aligned outlets, but new platforms like NarvaNews continue to emerge as replacement tools. The outlet builds credibility by mixing political propaganda with legitimate local content—consumer tips, city news, and cultural stories—making the manipulation appear organic and community-driven.Narva's geographic and demographic profile makes it uniquely vulnerable to Russian influence operations. Experts have long warned of the "Narva scenario"—a plan in which Russia might attempt to seize the Estonian border city using the pretext of "protecting the Russian-speaking population," similar to justifications used for the 2014 invasion of Crimea."Russian leader Vladimir Putin justifies his invasion of Ukraine by saying he wants to defend Russian-speaking populations across the former Soviet Union," the investigation notes. While Russian messaging was once popular with Narva's Russian-speaking population, attitudes toward the Kremlin shifted after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine—though Moscow's propaganda efforts targeting the city have only intensified.