Russian security services, according to the Financial Times, have intensified preparations for attacks on the heads of European defense companies, including manufacturers of drones and their components. According to representatives of five European intelligence services, the Kremlin is also expanding sabotage and other hybrid operations in Europe, seeking to weaken support for Ukraine in the coming months.
The Moscow Times, citing Financial Times, writes that Russian security services are stepping up efforts to prepare attacks on the heads of European defense companies. This includes manufacturers of drones and their components.
According to FT sources from five European intelligence agencies, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) is mainly behind such operations. It is expanding cooperation with organized crime groups and using agent networks operating in different countries. “The threat level in Europe has risen. This applies to both property and people”, a senior European intelligence official told FT.
European security services, according to FT, have managed to identify and prevent several planned operations. In some cases, they also noticed surveillance of potential targets near homes and workplaces.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency BfV has intensified cooperation with the management and employees of defense enterprises and recommends that they hire private security. The agency’s head, Sinan Selen, warned German lawmakers that Russia is deliberately preparing attacks on people, and organized criminal groups are increasingly taking part in such operations.
Several defense company executives told FT that over the past six months they had strengthened their personal security on the recommendation of security services. Others take additional security measures only when traveling abroad. Industry representatives fear that the costs of protecting employees and production facilities will become a serious financial burden, especially for startups.
According to FT, one company has already moved production to another part of Western Europe because of the threats. European security services believe that such operations are meant not only to strike at specific individuals but also to intimidate defense industry representatives so that they will be afraid to cooperate with Ukraine. FT sources also note that some of the alleged Russian agents are acting unprofessionally, which helps identify and stop them.
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