Several states, including France, have been alerted by German intelligence services to the “imminence” of several attacks “with a high potential for human and material damage”, announces the Financial Times.
Europe on its guard. This Sunday, May 5, 2024, the head of the German domestic intelligence service Thomas Haldenwang would have warned his French, Swedish and British counterparts of a “risk of acts of sabotage initiated by the Russian state” which “has increased considerably” . The Financial Times reveals that the Russia would consider stepping up efforts to carry out clandestine bombings, arson attacks and damage infrastructure on European soil. The German official insists on the “imminence” of several attacks “with a high potential for human and material damage”. The Kremlin would then confirm its direct involvement in a conflict with the West.
Operations in progress?
In fact, certain elements suggest that the operation to destabilize Russia has already begun. The British economic daily first mentions the fire in a warehouse in the United Kingdom containing cargo destined for Ukraine. Additionally, two German-Russian nationals were arrested for planning attacks against military and logistics sites.
“Russia has already begun to more actively prepare for clandestine bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure on European soil, directly or through proxies,” explains the British media. In Sweden, a series of train derailments worries the authorities. The latter suspect the Kremlin of acts of sabotage. Similar events on the Czech railways and attacks on certain vehicles of civil servants in Estonia are pushing the European authorities even more to be vigilant.
“A major intensification of Russian activity”
For Keir Giles, consultant specializing in Russia at the Chatham House think tank, “the obvious conclusion is that there has been a major intensification of Russian activity” he assures in the Financial Times. On the other hand, “it is impossible to say whether this is because the Russians are devoting more resources to it, whether they are more careless and getting caught, or whether Western counterintelligence has simply become better at detecting and stopping these activities” he concludes. NATO has already warned of Russia’s “malicious activities” on European soil. The organization calls for vigilance on operations dictated by the Kremlin, both small and large scale.
Disinformation and hacking campaigns
However, Russia’s threats are not limited to physical attacks. The Kremlin’s fight also includes disinformation and hacking campaigns. Already, in February 2023, the French organization fighting foreign digital interference, VIGINUM, highlighted the existence of nearly 200 information portals serving pro-Russian propaganda. This network nicknamed “Portal Kombat” is not without consequences for France, “denigrating the Kiev authorities, in order to influence public opinions, particularly French ones” specified the General Secretariat of Defense and National Security (SGDSN). “The “network constitutes foreign digital interference” indicated the technical report. Enough to encourage the greatest caution.
In April, NATO declared itself deeply concerned by Russia’s “malicious activities” on the territories of its allies and called on member states to be extremely vigilant in the face of the evolving threat. In the columns of the Financial Times, experts agree that the attacks carried out by Russia have several objectives, including creating disruption, spreading disinformation and testing Europe’s defenses. For his part, Moscow considers all these allegations “absurd”.