The Telegraph: Russia launches wave of sabotage attacks on weapons factories in Europe

Russia has launched a new wave of attacks on weapons factories in Europe, recruiting members of local criminal gangs and testing NATO's response.

Source: The Telegraph with reference to Western intelligence sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to sources, Russia has launched a series of sabotage operations at weapons factories in Europe under the cover of "plausible deniability". The Kremlin is recruiting members of local criminal gangs and carefully planning the attacks so that they do not reach the threshold that would trigger NATO's Article 5 on mutual defence.

This week, Latvia detained three of its citizens on suspicion of arson at a drone factory in neighbouring Estonia. A building belonging to Milrem Robotics – a Tallinn-based company that supplies weapons to Ukraine – was set on fire on the night of 14-15 August.

At the time of the incident, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that investigators were determining whether it was an act of sabotage and whether Russia was involved.

The arson attack targeting the Milrem Robotics building fits into a broader pattern of suspected or confirmed acts of sabotage against arms supply chains for Ukraine on the territory of NATO countries.

According to Alliance officials, these actions by the Kremlin are aimed at escalating tensions among allies and deterring support for Kyiv.

Earlier this year, a fire virtually destroyed a Czech factory that produces drones and thermal imaging equipment for Ukraine. Four suspects were detained as part of an investigation into Russian involvement.

Lithuania has also charged six individuals in connection with an attempted arson at a factory that supplies radio-wave scanners to Kyiv.

On 10 August, a powerful explosion occurred at a factory belonging to EMCO – one of the largest private weapons manufacturers in Bulgaria, which produces 155-mm artillery ammunition for Ukraine. The fire initially broke out in a lorry parked near a warehouse.

Three days later, a similar explosion occurred at an ammunition factory owned by KNDS Ammo Italy in the town of Colleferro, on the outskirts of Rome. The cause was said to be a fire that broke out in a gunpowder processing area, the origin of which remains unclear.

Italian and Bulgarian officials sought to downplay any possible Russian involvement in these incidents. However, as in the cases of Estonia, Italy and Bulgaria, Russia very rarely leaves evidence that would directly link it to the attacks.

This is because the Kremlin recruits members of local criminal gangs to carry out these sabotage operations. Officers from the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces establish contact with informants within gangs who act as intermediaries in the target country, using messaging apps such as Telegram.

It is these intermediaries who distribute local tasks among recruits, who are paid in cryptocurrency and often have no idea they are working for the Russians.

The covert nature of the attacks, organised on the Kremlin's orders, is seen as a deliberate move to sow discord among NATO allies.

Eastern member states of the Alliance, such as Poland and the Baltic countries, have been far more vocal in condemning Russian aggression in Europe. However, countries further to the west, such as Italy and Germany, are often reluctant to link these incidents to Moscow for fear of escalation. It is precisely this divide among Western allies that the Kremlin is seeking to expose.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!