A recent study conducted by a researcher has highlighted how deeply rooted the identity of 'Russian' is among respondents in Latvia, which poses challenges to integration policies implemented in the past decades. The researcher points out that despite efforts, the integration policies have failed to alter the boundaries of this identity, which significantly affects the perceptions of security and threats among different ethnic groups in the region.

The researcher notes that the influence of Russia is palpable in how inhabitants of Riga and Tallinn perceive threats. For self-identified Latvians and Estonians, military attacks and the spread of disinformation are considered the most pressing threats. In contrast, those who identify as Russian consistently express concerns about instability as their primary threat. This divergence in perceived threats underscores the complexities of national identity and security in the Baltic states.

Moreover, the study reveals what the Russian-speaking communities in these cities consider as their third-largest threat. In Riga, concerns revolve around terrorism or organized crime, while in Tallinn, there is a significant apprehension about the spread of infectious diseases. These findings suggest a nuanced landscape of threat perception that is influenced by language, identity, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.