{"id":337622,"date":"2025-05-30T21:18:23","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T18:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes"},"modified":"2025-05-30T22:57:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T19:57:56","slug":"dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes","title":{"rendered":"Sabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Western media reported at the beginning of the year that Russia had created a special unit tasked with organizing sabotage and attacks in Europe. Its operatives infiltrate defense industry enterprises in Western countries, universities, and financial institutions, and also plan and carry out kidnappings and assassinations. How is the Kremlin building its spy network in the EU, and could these acts of sabotage stop Europe\u2019s military support for Ukraine? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volodymyr Solovian, head of the Hybrid Warfare Analysis Group at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center, provided his insights<\/a> in a new episode of the project “Hybrid Operations” on the FREE\u0414\u041e\u041c TV channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Volodymyr Solovian. Screenshot from the episode of the project “Hybrid Operations” on FREE\u0414\u041e\u041c TV channel (“Mission: DIVIDE AND DESTROY \u2013 Kremlin\u2019s sabotage in Europe gains momentum”)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Text version:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of today, Russian intelligence services are actively using messaging apps to recruit individuals willing to cooperate for ideological or financial reasons. This methodology was previously tested in Ukraine. Typically, marginal individuals or those with pro-Russian ideological views are involved in sabotage activities. The primary targets for Russian recruiters are Ukrainians who have relocated to Europe, as the objective of discrediting Ukraine is achieved regardless of whether sabotage actually occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main challenge for Western intelligence communities lies in the technical ability to monitor messages in encrypted messengers and to respond quickly to such hybrid operations in cyberspace. I believe that the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris last year is part of broader efforts to take control over various areas of Russian intelligence activities, including sabotage operations in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia is attempting to create an atmosphere of fear in Europe over the prospect of a large-scale continental war. Moscow will continue to exploit Europe\u2019s vulnerabilities in energy and cyberspace. We are likely to see an escalation of such activities in the coming years. I believe the first major signal was the blackout on the Iberian Peninsula in late April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u0421\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0434\u043d\u044f
Blackout in Spain, April 2025<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Kremlin\u2019s priority targets include financial elites involved in supporting Ukraine, primarily the European defense-industrial complex. Russian propaganda systematically fosters an atmosphere of anxiety and fear around supporting Ukraine, even without physically targeting personnel or executives of European defense companies. How effective this tactic is remains unclear. The governments of most European countries are expected to continue supporting Ukraine. However, within professional communities, this pressure could affect the speed and consistency in decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
In 2024, the U.S. and Germany<\/em><\/em> intelligence agencies reported that Russia had plotted to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of the German defense giant Rheinmetall, which supplies weapons to Ukraine.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Russia also traditionally uses scientific diplomacy for espionage and recruitment purposes. A telling example is the Peoples\u2019 Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, established in Moscow in the early 1960s. Many political leaders from the African continent and other Global South countries received their education within its walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the Kremlin does not overlook the opportunities offered by Russia sympathizers in the European academic community, primarily among proponents of far-left ideologies. These \u201cuseful idiots\u201d can be deployed for public demonstrations, which Russia then amplifies through its media networks. We observe this in Southern European countries, where historical ties between communist groups and Moscow remain strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Milan, Italy. May 9, 2025<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Western media reported at the beginning of the year that Russia had created a special unit tasked with organizing sabotage and attacks in Europe. Its operatives infiltrate defense industry enterprises in Western countries, universities, and financial institutions, and also plan and carry out kidnappings and assassinations. How is the Kremlin building its spy network in […] More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":337624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[700,611],"tags":[],"section":[726],"form":[31943],"yoast_head":"\nSabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU | UACRISIS.ORG<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Western media reported at the beginning of the year that Russia had created a special unit tasked with organizing sabotage and attacks in Europe. Its | Uacrisis.org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU | UACRISIS.ORG\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Western media reported at the beginning of the year that Russia had created a special unit tasked with organizing sabotage and attacks in Europe. Its | Uacrisis.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Uacrisis.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uacrisis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-30T18:18:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-30T19:57:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/solovian-russia.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uacrisis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uacrisis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Volodymyr Solovian\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU | UACRISIS.ORG","description":"Western media reported at the beginning of the year that Russia had created a special unit tasked with organizing sabotage and attacks in Europe. Its | Uacrisis.org","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Sabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU | UACRISIS.ORG","og_description":"Western media reported at the beginning of the year that Russia had created a special unit tasked with organizing sabotage and attacks in Europe. Its | Uacrisis.org","og_url":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes","og_site_name":"Uacrisis.org","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uacrisis\/","article_published_time":"2025-05-30T18:18:23+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-30T19:57:56+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/solovian-russia.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@uacrisis","twitter_site":"@uacrisis","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Volodymyr Solovian","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#organization","name":"Ukraine crisis media center","url":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uacrisis\/","http:\/\/youtube.com\/UACrisisMediaCenter","https:\/\/twitter.com\/uacrisis"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#logo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/header_logo-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/header_logo-1.png","width":250,"height":90,"caption":"Ukraine crisis media center"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#logo"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/","name":"Uacrisis.org","description":"Ukraine crisis media center","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/solovian-russia.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/solovian-russia.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#webpage","url":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes","name":"Sabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU | UACRISIS.ORG","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2025-05-30T18:18:23+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-30T19:57:56+00:00","description":"Western media reported at the beginning of the year that Russia had created a special unit tasked with organizing sabotage and attacks in Europe. Its | Uacrisis.org","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\u0413\u043b\u0430\u0432\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430","item":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Sabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU"}]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#webpage"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/d64c9f3f0c6d851826c4e63e4a36941b"},"headline":"Sabotage and Covert Attacks: Russia\u2019s Hybrid War on the EU","datePublished":"2025-05-30T18:18:23+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-30T19:57:56+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#webpage"},"wordCount":554,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/dyversiyi-ta-sabotazh-gibrydnyj-front-rosiyi-proty-yes#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/solovian-russia.jpg","articleSection":["Information war","Security"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/d64c9f3f0c6d851826c4e63e4a36941b","name":"Volodymyr Solovian"}]}},"wps_subtitle":"","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337622"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=337622"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":337630,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337622\/revisions\/337630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/337624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=337622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=337622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=337622"},{"taxonomy":"section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section?post=337622"},{"taxonomy":"form","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/form?post=337622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}