Assassination attempts have long been a tool of covert warfare, used to destabilize opponents and send political messages. Now, a chilling revelation from NATO confirms that such tactics remain a key part of Russia’s playbook in its conflict with the West.
As reported by HotNews.ro, NATO has officially confirmed that Russian operatives plotted to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall.
The attack was thwarted by U.S. and German intelligence services, but officials warn it was part of a broader Kremlin strategy to target European defense executives.
A Growing Pattern of Sabotage
James Appathurai, NATO’s deputy secretary-general for innovation, told the European Parliament that Russia has engaged in a series of sabotage attempts across NATO countries over the past two years.
These include train derailments, arson attacks, and plots against political figures, all intended to create unrest and weaken Western support for Ukraine.
According to Appathurai, Russia often recruits criminals, young people, or migrants online to carry out these operations.
While many of these attempts are crude, their purpose is clear—to spread instability and undermine European unity.
A Shift in NATO’s Approach?
Appathurai’s statements align with recent remarks from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who in December urged the alliance to adopt a “wartime mentality” in response to escalating Russian threats. Western nations have been supplying Ukraine with weapons since the start of the full-scale invasion, and Moscow appears determined to retaliate through covert means.
With NATO now publicly acknowledging these assassination plots, the alliance may be preparing to take a more aggressive stance against Russian hybrid warfare. The revelation adds to mounting concerns that Moscow’s covert operations in Europe are far from over.
