Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, has been behind a series of arson attacks across Europe, according to a report in the New York Times.
Citing Western security services, the report says that an uptick in minor sabotage operations targeting various locations in Europe, including a warehouse in the U.K., buildings in Latvia, a paint factory in Poland, and an Ikea store in Lithuania, are the work of Russian agents.
According to Western intelligence sources, the attacks are part of Russia’s strategy to delay arms transfers to Kyiv and to create an impression of growing European reluctance to support Ukraine.
Security officials also believe that Russia is trying to instill fear and compel European countries to bolster the protection of their entire arms supply chain, thereby increasing costs and slowing down the transfers.
In response to the growing sabotage concerns, NATO ambassadors are scheduled to meet next month with U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines.
One of the first recent sabotage acts attributed to Russia was a fire in March at a warehouse in London. Authorities claim the warehouse was linked to supplies being sent to Ukraine.
Intelligence services believe GRU agents used a Russian diplomatic building in Sussex to recruit operatives for the arson.
Four British nationals have since been charged, and the U.K. has expelled a Russian officer and announced plans to strip several Russian-owned properties of their diplomatic status.
Western intelligence indicates that a hallmark of Russia’s sabotage campaign is the use of local operatives. This tactic aims to complicate detection and create the impression of local opposition to supporting Ukraine.
The New York Times also noted that in 2014, Russian military intelligence blew up an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic.
Following the 2018 attack on a former Russian intelligence officer living in Salisbury, U.K., Western governments expelled a number of Russian agents, a measure repeated after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Max Bergmann, director for Europe, Russia, and Eurasia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the New York Times that the expulsion of Russian agents has significantly hindered Russia’s ability to conduct attacks.
“There has been a lot of disruption of Russian intelligence activities in Europe, that caused a pause, and Russian intelligence was consumed by the war in Ukraine. Now they have their footing back and are probably trying to build back up,” Bergmann said.
“They want to take the war to Europe, but they don’t want a war with NATO,” said Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a former U.S. intelligence analyst.
The United States and the EU have already imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled Russian spies, making further response to Russia’s actions challenging. “We are in a very delicate situation because things are already on edge, the Kremlin is already paranoid, so Western leaders have to tread very carefully with how they respond,” said Max Bergmann.
According to Western intelligence sources, the attacks are part of Russia’s strategy to delay arms transfers to Kyiv and to create an impression of growing European reluctance to support Ukraine.
Security officials also believe that Russia is trying to instill fear and compel European countries to bolster the protection of their entire arms supply chain, thereby increasing costs and slowing down the transfers.
In response to the growing sabotage concerns, NATO ambassadors are scheduled to meet next month with U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines.
One of the first recent sabotage acts attributed to Russia was a fire in March at a warehouse in London. Authorities claim the warehouse was linked to supplies being sent to Ukraine.
Intelligence services believe GRU agents used a Russian diplomatic building in Sussex to recruit operatives for the arson.
Four British nationals have since been charged, and the U.K. has expelled a Russian officer and announced plans to strip several Russian-owned properties of their diplomatic status.
Western intelligence indicates that a hallmark of Russia’s sabotage campaign is the use of local operatives. This tactic aims to complicate detection and create the impression of local opposition to supporting Ukraine.
The New York Times also noted that in 2014, Russian military intelligence blew up an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic.
Following the 2018 attack on a former Russian intelligence officer living in Salisbury, U.K., Western governments expelled a number of Russian agents, a measure repeated after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Max Bergmann, director for Europe, Russia, and Eurasia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the New York Times that the expulsion of Russian agents has significantly hindered Russia’s ability to conduct attacks.
“There has been a lot of disruption of Russian intelligence activities in Europe, that caused a pause, and Russian intelligence was consumed by the war in Ukraine. Now they have their footing back and are probably trying to build back up,” Bergmann said.
“They want to take the war to Europe, but they don’t want a war with NATO,” said Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a former U.S. intelligence analyst.
The United States and the EU have already imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled Russian spies, making further response to Russia’s actions challenging. “We are in a very delicate situation because things are already on edge, the Kremlin is already paranoid, so Western leaders have to tread very carefully with how they respond,” said Max Bergmann.
Suspicious fires in Poland
The Mazowiecki Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw has taken over two investigations concerning fires that occurred in April and May in Warsaw, including one at the Marywilska 44 market hall, prosecutor Karol Borchólski of the National Prosecutor’s Office said.
He added that evidence collection is ongoing in the Marywilska 44 shopping center fire investigation, which includes the questioning of witnesses and victims.
“In the second ongoing investigation, five suspects have been charged with participation in an organized criminal group aimed at committing terrorist offenses. At the prosecutor’s request, the court has imposed temporary detention on all suspects,” Borchólski said.
The Mazowiecki Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw has taken over two investigations concerning fires that occurred in April and May in Warsaw, including one at the Marywilska 44 market hall, prosecutor Karol Borchólski of the National Prosecutor’s Office said.
He added that evidence collection is ongoing in the Marywilska 44 shopping center fire investigation, which includes the questioning of witnesses and victims.
“In the second ongoing investigation, five suspects have been charged with participation in an organized criminal group aimed at committing terrorist offenses. At the prosecutor’s request, the court has imposed temporary detention on all suspects,” Borchólski said.
Source: TVP World, PAP, New York Times
