Russia has intensified sabotage in Europe to undermine support for Ukraine
Russia is using “disposable” agents for sabotage in European countries in order to sow chaos and undermine support for Ukraine.
This is reported by The Times.
According to the publication, Russia recruits agents through encrypted messengers and pays them small sums, often in cryptocurrency. Such diversions have low cost, but create a sense of instability and fear.
According to a report by the London-based think tank Royal United Services Institute, Russian special services involve, in particular, Ukrainian refugees in such operations who are in a difficult financial situation and do not always realize that they are working for the Kremlin.
Analysts say subversive activities include arson, attacks on civilian infrastructure, vandalism and other acts of sabotage. Their aim is to spread fear, create panic in Western societies and expose weaknesses in defense systems.
The report indicates that the number of such incidents in Europe tripled between 2023 and 2024, and sabotage remains a key tool of Russia’s hybrid warfare.
Low-level agents are most often recruited through Telegram. They are offered a few dollars for minor acts like graffiti, and up to $10,000 for more serious crimes. In some cases, saboteurs were not paid at all, which analysts say underscores their “disposable” nature.
Report co-author Kinga Redlowska noted that stoking tensions and undermining support for Ukraine is a key logic behind such operations, even if physical damage remains limited.
Analysts also call on European countries to tighten control over over-the-counter cryptocurrency-to-cash transactions and step up information campaigns among migrants, the diaspora, and adolescents – groups that are most often targeted by Russian recruiters.
It was previously reported that Germany is probably considering the option of deporting Ukrainian men from the country when their temporary protection status expires.