As Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on, a more covert but equally dangerous campaign is being waged against Europe. According to Ken McCallum, the head of Britain's MI5, Vladimir Putin’s Russia is engaged in a strategic effort to destabilize the West.
Sabotage, Arson and Assassinations
The Kremlin’s tactics include sabotage, arson, and even assassinations across European countries. McCallum has warned that these "reckless" actions are increasing in frequency and boldness, as reported by Ziare.
The Russian military intelligence agency GRU has been behind many of these attacks, which have caused chaos in both the UK and broader Europe.
For example, in April, German authorities arrested two German-Russian nationals on suspicion of plotting attacks on American military installations on behalf of GRU.
Around the same time, Poland apprehended a man who was gathering information on Rzeszow Airport, a key hub for weapons destined for Ukraine. Similarly, several men were charged in the UK for an arson attack on a logistics company owned by Ukraine.
Avoiding a Direct War
These actions reflect a broader Russian campaign aimed at pressuring NATO while avoiding direct war.
Fiona Hill, a former member of the U.S. National Security Council, likened Putin’s approach to the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once. She explains that Putin is testing the West’s boundaries, trying to push NATO without crossing into full-scale conflict.
Other alarming incidents include the attempted bombing of a Paris hotel room by a Russian-Ukrainian national, and Russia's plot to assassinate the CEO of Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer.
In addition, drones disrupted flights at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport for over two hours in September, further raising concerns about the extent of Russian interference.
Despite these covert attacks, Hill argues that Putin sees the West as weak and vulnerable, which could mean that these actions will only intensify in the coming months and years.
While Russia stops short of starting a war with NATO, its campaign to create instability across Europe appears to be growing in scope and ambition.
