Russia seeks to sow chaos in Europe and beyond through various acts of sabotage

Russia is actively engaging in hybrid aggression through diverse means, ranging from basic propaganda to attempts to shift entire nations under its influence. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin perceives the West as a decaying structure and aims to test the resilience of the “red lines” set by Europe and the U.S. by instigating global chaos through different types of sabotage, The Economist reports. 

MI5 chief Ken McCallum emphasized that Russia’s foreign policy increasingly relies on subversive activities: “We’ve seen arson, sabotage, and other reckless actions being carried out with increasing boldness. The GRU (Russia’s military intelligence agency) in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets.” Russia’s rise in subversive activities has become evident amid its military aggression in Ukraine. 

In the past year, numerous acts of sabotage attributed to Russian intelligence have been identified across Europe. In April, Germany arrested two German-Russian nationals suspected of planning attacks on U.S. military facilities on behalf of the GRU. The same month, Polish authorities detained a man preparing to provide the GRU with information about Rzeszów airport, a hub for military aid to Ukraine. Additionally, several men in the UK were charged with arson targeting a Ukrainian-owned logistics firm in London, allegedly aiding the Wagner Group, now under GRU control. In July, a plot to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, was exposed. On September 9th, air traffic at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport was halted for over two hours after drones were spotted over the runways, with police suspecting intentional interference. U.S. officials also warned about Russian vessels surveying underwater cables, posing potential threats to critical infrastructure. 

Even without resorting to violence, Russia has sought to stir unrest in other ways. The Baltic states have arrested individuals for Russian-backed provocations. French intelligence accused Russia of placing coffins draped with French flags and labeled “French soldiers of Ukraine” at the Eiffel Tower to incite anti-war sentiment. These actions aim not only to discourage support for Ukraine but also to deepen societal divisions. In November, France reported Russian involvement in graffiti of 250 Stars of David across Paris to provoke antisemitism amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

Ken McCallum cautioned that despite the expulsion of Russian spies from Europe, Russia continues to conduct clandestine operations: Russia employs recruited agents to execute its missions, even when regular officers no longer have access to the region. «Their use of proxies compromises the professionalism of their operations and—without diplomatic immunity—provides us with more disruption options,» said McCallum. 

In addition to physical sabotage, Russia carries out cyberattacks aimed at both espionage and sabotage, threatening national infrastructures. In April, GRU-linked hackers tampered with water treatment systems in the U.S. and Poland. In September, the U.S., the UK, Ukraine, and other allies exposed cyber-attacks by GRU Unit 29155, a group known for assassinations in Europe, including the failed poisoning of Sergei Skripal. These operations, ongoing since 2020, not only aimed to gather intelligence but also inflicted reputational damage and destroyed data, according to U.S. officials. 

MI6 chief Richard Moore described these actions as signs of recklessness, stating that “Russian intelligence services have gone rogue.” Former U.S. National Security Council director Fiona Hill added that Putin’s strategy is to “strike everywhere at once.” She explained that Moscow exerts pressure on NATO without provoking open warfare: “Putin is testing our red lines.” 

Russia’s destabilization efforts extend beyond Europe. In Africa, Wagner mercenaries have ousted Western competitors, weakening the West’s influence in the region. Meanwhile, the GRU has forged ties with Houthis rebels in Yemen, expanding Russia’s reach in the Middle East. Russia, angered by America’s provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine, came close to providing weapons to Houthis in July, according to American officials who spoke to CNN, but reversed course at the last moment after strong opposition from Saudi Arabia.

Russian interference also targets U.S. politics. American authorities consider Russia the primary threat to electoral processes, focusing on undermining the U.S.’s global leadership. 

Moscow’s strategy seeks to dismantle the global order established after World War II. Russia is aligning with China, which shares similar ambitions of reshaping the international system. Both countries aim to undermine Western institutions and erode international agreements. 

Experts emphasize that Russia is not invincible. Despite its destabilizing activities, its global influence is waning. “Russia is increasingly becoming China’s junior partner, and its influence in Syria is diminishing,” noted Richard Moore. He stressed that combating Russian intelligence operations requires “good old-fashioned intelligence work” to identify agents and thwart their activities. 

Russia’s foreign policy is becoming more aggressive and chaotic, resembling special operations with disruptive objectives. The Kremlin uses sabotage, cyberattacks, and propaganda to weaken NATO and Western countries without engaging in direct confrontation. Analysts warn that such tactics will likely intensify in the coming years, posing serious threats to global security.

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