A newly built Russian Orthodox church on the outskirts of the Swedish city of Västerås could pose a potential threat to Sweden’s national security: Russia might use the church as cover for future intelligence or sabotage operations. Source: Politico.
The primary concerns arise from the church’s strategic location. It is situated near Västerås Airport and close to water treatment facilities and major energy companies ABB and Westinghouse. These sites, located about 100 kilometers from Stockholm, play a vital role in the region’s infrastructure, and their proximity to the Russian church raises questions.
“The church offers a potential foothold that can be used for information-gathering, both directed at Västerås Airport and at industrial interests in the form of large companies involved in the energy sector,” said Markus Göransson, a researcher focusing on Russia at the Swedish Defence University. “When Sweden’s defense forces undertake exercises on or near the airport, as was done in June, they do so under possible surveillance from the church,” he added.
Swedish authorities have already taken some measures: SST, the national agency that supports religious groups, stopped funding the church in May after consultations with the security police Säpo. According to SST, the church has ties with individuals linked to Russian intelligence.
This church is not the only facility raising concerns among authorities. In recent years, there have been increasing instances of Russian nationals purchasing property near strategic sites in Northern Europe. For example, two Russian businessmen bought ski resorts across from a Norwegian military airport, while another Russian businessman purchased coastal property near a secret naval base in Sweden. Swedish and Finnish authorities are discussing measures to prevent such transactions and are considering the possibility of restricting property purchases near critical infrastructure.
Given the current international relations and recent incidents involving Russian agents in Europe, Sweden is compelled to seriously assess the risks associated with the presence of religious organizations and facilities connected to Moscow.
The Russian Orthodox Church appears to be emerging as one potential conduit for Moscow’s covert actions abroad.
In early 2022, Ukrainian security forces raided a monastery in Kyiv to disrupt Russian intelligence operations they said were based there. This August, the Ukrainian government banned the church from its territory altogether.
In April 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool of influence and propaganda for official Moscow.
In the Czech Republic, some lawmakers recently called on the government to investigate church activities on Czech soil, Radio Free Europe reported.
The Financial Times notes that Russia has recently intensified its espionage activities and sabotage efforts abroad. In Germany, saboteurs planning attacks on military and logistical sites were recently arrested; in the UK, there’s an ongoing investigation into an arson attack on a warehouse with humanitarian aid for Ukraine; in Sweden, authorities are investigating a series of railway incidents; in the Czech Republic, Russia attempted to disable railway signaling systems.
