The provided text discusses a decline in hybrid attacks attributed to Russia, especially arson and sabotage incidents in Europe.Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
Decline in Incidents:
the decline may have started in fall 2024 after high-level US officials warned their Russian counterparts against conducting future operations.
This outreach was prompted by American fears that Russia would use incendiary devices on cargo planes bound for the US, following a fire at a DHL facility in Britain in July 2024.
Definition of Hybrid Attacks:
Hybrid attacks are defined as opposed state-backed threats using both conventional and unconventional military methods.
Their purpose is to destabilize opponents while blurring the line of a declared act of war.
specific Incidents and Accusations:
UK: Three UK residents were convicted in July for a Russia-backed arson attack in March 2024 on a London warehouse supplying goods (including Starlink equipment) to Ukraine.Ken McCallum of MI5 stated Russia aims to generate “sustained mayhem on British and European streets.”
Poland: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a 2024 arson attack that severely damaged a shopping center in Warsaw.
Other Incidents: These include vandalism, GPS jamming, and a foiled plot to assassinate the CEO of a German arms company.
Russia’s Motivations and Challenges:
Finnish president alexander Stubb described Russia as waging two wars: a kinetic war in Ukraine and a hybrid war in Europe and the West to influence public discourse and undermine security.
Russia might be struggling to control its operations, with some sabotage and arson going beyond the original aims. This is attributed to the incompetence and unreliability of hired criminals and “self-starters” acting on their own initiative to impress paymasters, leading to erratic outcomes.
To counter this, Russia is reportedly ordering local proxies to film themselves carrying out attacks to ensure they proceed as planned.
The diversion of Russian intelligence resources to Ukraine suggests the Kremlin’s struggles to achieve breakthroughs on the ground, despite public claims of victory, and indicates stretched resources.
Increased Risks for Perpetrators:
Changes in laws, such as in the UK, have led to increased prison sentences for involvement in such incidents.
This raises the risk for recruits who are frequently enough paid little and have no diplomatic protection if caught.
Ongoing Threats:
Despite the decline in some plots, European governments continue to record regular and serious cases of Russian cyber attacks and conventional espionage attempts.
Assistance:
* The article mentions assistance from Alberto Nardelli.
