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Up to 100 ‘suspicious incidents’ in Europe can be attributed to Russia, Czech minister says | Espionage

Europe on Edge: Covert Operations Raise Fears of Wider Conflict

Europe is facing a wave of suspected Russian sabotage and espionage, raising alarms among western officials who fear Moscow is escalating its hybrid warfare tactics.

This isn’t a new phenomenon, but the recent uptick in activity, coupled with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has painted a chilling picture of a Kremlin determined to destabilize the West and potentially broaden the conflict’s reach.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, speaking ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels, warned, "This year there were 500 suspicious incidents in Europe. Up to 100 of them can be attributed to Russian hybrid attacks, espionage, influence operations." He stressed the urgent need to send a clear message to Moscow that such actions won’t be tolerated.

From cyberattacks and arson to incendiary devices and even alleged assassination plots, the range of Russian tactics is alarmingly diverse. Security analysts believe the goal is twofold: to sow chaos within European societies and disrupt the flow of military aid to Ukraine, one of Russia’s main adversaries.

The United States’ recent decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike targets within Russia has only heightened tensions.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned of a worrying trend, saying Russia’s "intensifying campaign of hybrid attacks" is shifting the frontline from Ukraine “to the Baltic region, to western Europe and even to the high north."

Several incidents highlight the gravity of the situation.

In November, Sweden launched an investigation into the suspected sabotage of two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Suspicion has fallen on Russia, with Western officials suggesting a vessel purposefully severed the cables by dragging an anchor along the seabed for over 100 miles.

Meanwhile, a British court is examining a sophisticated spy ring operating in the UK that allegedly passed secrets to Russia for nearly three years, targeting key figures across Europe.

Adding to the uneasiness are reports that Russia-linked spies may have planted incendiary devices, distributed via the delivery service DHL, in both the United Kingdom and Germany.

Perhaps the most chilling incident involved an alleged assassination plot targeting Armin Papperger, CEO of the German defense company Rheinmetall, a key supplier of munitions to Ukraine. German Intelligence Chief Bruno Kahl has warned that this escalation in Russian aggression could ultimately prompt NATO to invoke its Article 5 collective defense clause.

The vast geographical scope and varied nature of these attacks pose a daunting challenge for the West.

"It is practically impossible to fully confront Moscow’s escalating hybrid warfare," confided a former senior European defense official, who expressed concern that years of underestimating Russian hybrid activities have put Western nations behind the curve in terms of intelligence sharing and building defensive capabilities.

To fill the gaps, some European nations are increasingly relying on non-governmental organizations to safeguard their territories.

The Netherlands, for example, recently announced plans to temporarily enlist private shipping companies to bolster security in its portion of the North Sea.

This new wave of Russian activity coincides with the Kremlin’s intelligence apparatus recovering from the mass expulsion of 450 diplomats posing as spies from Europe following the invasion of Ukraine.

Forced to adapt, Russian intelligence is allegedly relying on reliance on criminals and other less conventional methods to carry out its covert operations, creating a dangerous and unpredictable landscape for European security.

“This year there were 500 suspicious incidents in Europe. Up to 100 of them can be attributed to Russian hybrid attacks, espionage, influence operations,” Lipavský told reporters.

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