Increase in Hybrid Attacks by Russia; Over 50 Destructive Operations in 13 European Countries

As the war against Ukraine approaches its third year, Russia has significantly increased its 'hybrid attacks' against Ukraine's Western allies. Investigative journalists, citing Western intelligence agencies, estimate that Russian operatives have been involved in over 50 destructive operations in 13 European countries over the past three years. This list includes damage to critical infrastructure, cyberattacks, espionage, and the dissemination of false information. These operations have 'new characteristics': instead of sending their agents to Europe, Russian forces recruit foreigners to carry out their operations; some of these individuals are organized criminals, while others are locals who execute Moscow's orders in exchange for money. A joint report by the German newspaper 'Die Zeit' and the Russian publication 'Agonistov' states that identifying those responsible is difficult, but suspects have been arrested in several countries, revealing that they acted in coordination with Russian intelligence agencies. Although it is said that most of Russia's destructive operations in Europe have not resulted in casualties, Western intelligence officials believe that Russian agents do not appear to be trying to prevent potential casualties. The head of MI6 accused Moscow of 'brazen sabotage' in Europe. Undermining Western support for Ukraine is one of Moscow's persistent goals, but this demand is not sufficient; Russia is also pursuing other objectives 'on a second front' against the West, including testing NATO members' defensive capabilities, searching for vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, pressuring intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and instilling fear and panic among citizens of Western countries. Francesca Davis, an international affairs expert, believes that the Kremlin's main demand is 'to dismantle the democratic system of Europe and its allies.' Last month, the European Union targeted several individuals and entities recognized as responsible for destabilizing activities outside of Russia for sanctions for the first time. Moscow does not accept the accusations against it. The hybrid attacks by Russia against Germany are detailed as follows: 2022-2-23: Carsten Linke, a German intelligence officer, provided sensitive information about the deployment of Western weapons in Ukraine to Moscow through Russian businessman Arto Rler in exchange for money from Russian intelligence agencies. Summer and fall 2022: A wave of spy drones attacked a military base in Germany where Ukrainian soldiers were being trained. October 2022: Destruction of power cables in rail lines that paralyzed train traffic in northern Germany. 2023: Hiring an employee of the German Ministry of Defense who provided sensitive information to Russian intelligence agents on Moscow's orders. January 2023: A cyberattack on the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, with hackers accessing emails of senior officials of the party. July 2023: The presence of spy drones at the Altengrabow and Klitz military bases. November 2023: Preparation for an explosion at a military airport's fuel depot in Germany; the location for planting explosives was identified before this destructive operation. November 2023: Destruction of a fuel pipeline in northwestern Germany. February 2024: Eavesdropping on a phone conversation in the German Ministry of Defense regarding the potential transfer of long-range missiles to Ukraine; this audio was published by Kremlin-controlled media. April 2024: Placement of incendiary materials at military facilities in Bavaria; police arrested two men who intended to carry out this destructive operation. May 2024: A fire at an arms factory in Berlin. July 2024: Arrest of three individuals intending to spy on and kill a Ukrainian citizen in Frankfurt. July 2024: Disclosure of a plot to assassinate Armin Papager, CEO of the arms manufacturing company 'Rheinmetall.' July 2024: A fire at the German postal company's warehouse at Leipzig airport; suspects were subsequently arrested in Poland. August 2024: Spy drones attacked a NATO airbase in central Germany. August 2024: Prevention of a spy's infiltration into the Cologne-Wahn airbase, from where military aid is sent to Ukraine. August 2024: The presence of drones at a former liquefied gas and nuclear power plant site in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany. October 2024: Arrest of a Russian citizen upon entering a military base near Magdeburg. Details of Russia's 'shadow war' in European countries are provided in the report by 'Die Zeit' and 'Agonistov,' which describes dozens of cases of Russia's 'hybrid attacks' in France, the UK, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria. Recently, a NATO official told CNN that 'the extent of Russia's destructive actions is such that it could have strategic consequences, such as armed conflicts in Eastern Europe.' In recent days, James Appathurai, NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary-General, stated in an interview with Sky News that 'Russia's hybrid attacks in Europe, the US, and Canada have reached a scale that was unimaginable five years ago and could result in significant casualties and heavy economic losses.' According to this NATO official, his team is updating NATO's strategy for identifying, deterring, and countering Russia's hybrid warfare, taking into account challenges posed by Russia's allies such as China, Iran, and North Korea.