Event 577

{
  "category": "Sabotage",
  "confidence": "Low",
  "confidence_rationale": "The report is substantiated by law enforcement and security service statements, screenshots from Telegram postings, and several case examples from multiple countries.",
  "continuous_since": "2023-01-01T00:00:00Z",
  "continuous_summary": "A growing pattern of sabotage and recruitment attempts by pro-Russian actors across Europe, primarily coordinated via Telegram.",
  "countries": [
    "Estonia",
    "Lithuania",
    "Latvia",
    "Germany",
    "Poland",
    "European Union"
  ],
  "country": "Multiple countries",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "An OCCRP investigation reveals the use of Telegram channels to recruit Europeans into acts of sabotage, arson, and murder, targeting infrastructure and security across Europe, with a documented pattern of pro-Russian influence.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-09-26T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Telegram channels spread pro-Russian propaganda and instructions for sabotage.",
    "Incidents of railway sabotage in Estonia and Lithuania linked to such recruitment.",
    "Arrests and investigations in Latvia, Germany, and Poland for related activities."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "\"A handful of recent criminal cases show how pro-Russian propagandists are using Telegram to recruit people including Europeans, to commit acts of sabotage, arson, and in some cases murder across the continent.\"",
    "\"Several of the attacks followed patterns that originated in instructions shared on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels.\"",
    "\"In Estonia and Lithuania, suspected saboteurs carried out attacks on rail infrastructure, and in one case started a fire.\""
  ],
  "evidence_urls": [
    "https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/make-a-molotov-cocktail-how-europeans-are-recruited-through-telegram-to-commit-sabotage-arson-and-murder"
  ],
  "extra": {
    "category_raw": "Recruitment / Sabotage",
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "Telegram channels spread pro-Russian propaganda and instructions for sabotage.",
            "Incidents of railway sabotage in Estonia and Lithuania linked to such recruitment.",
            "Arrests and investigations in Latvia, Germany, and Poland for related activities."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "fifth_column_countries": [
    "FI",
    "EE",
    "LV",
    "LT",
    "PL",
    "Europe"
  ],
  "follow_up_by_country": [
    {
      "country": "Estonia",
      "status": "Investigation"
    },
    {
      "country": "Lithuania",
      "status": "Investigation"
    },
    {
      "country": "Latvia",
      "status": "Arrest/Detention"
    },
    {
      "country": "Germany",
      "status": "Investigation"
    },
    {
      "country": "Poland",
      "status": "Investigation"
    }
  ],
  "follow_up_notes": "??Russian special services recruiting Europeans via Telegram for sabotage and arson",
  "headline": "‘Make a Molotov Cocktail’: How Europeans Are Recruited Through Telegram to Commit Sabotage, Arson, and Murder",
  "is_continuous": true,
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_577_1763931483_683109a3.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "??Russian special services recruiting Europeans via Telegram for sabotage and arson",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "sources": [
    "https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/make-a-molotov-cocktail-how-europeans-are-recruited-through-telegram-to-commit-sabotage-arson-and-murder"
  ],
  "summary_short": "Pro-Russian groups use Telegram to recruit Europeans for sabotage and violent actions across the EU.",
  "url": "https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/make-a-molotov-cocktail-how-europeans-are-recruited-through-telegram-to-commit-sabotage-arson-and-murder"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "FI EE LV LT PL Europe",
  "Attack Type": "Recruitment / sabotage",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "EE;LV;Europe",
  "Date": "26-Sep-24",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/make-a-molotov-cocktail-how-europeans-are-recruited-through-telegram-to-commit-sabotage-arson-and-murder",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "??Russian special services recruiting Europeans via Telegram for sabotage and arson",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "??Russian special services recruiting Europeans via Telegram for sabotage and arson",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}