Healthy processed event from Hybrid War Tracker
Headline: Russia wants to drain Europe's investigative resources with its sabotage campaign, officials say
Short Summary: On or before March 20, 2023, European security and intelligence officials reported a series of sabotage incidents attributed to Russia aimed at exhausting European investigative and security resources. The campaign includes arson attacks on warehouses in Poland, coordinated incidents in Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and France, and efforts to force local authorities to divert resources away from other threats. The sabotage campaign is part of a broader Russian hybrid warfare strategy designed to create instability and divert law enforcement attention. European police and security agencies are increasing coordination and preparedness to counter these covert attacks. Authorities caution that the campaign seeks to erode trust and strain cooperation among EU member states, while complicating counterintelligence and investigative efforts.
Extended Summary: On or before March 20, 2023, European security and intelligence officials reported a series of sabotage incidents attributed to Russia aimed at exhausting European investigative and security resources. The campaign includes arson attacks on warehouses in Poland, coordinated incidents in Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and France, and efforts to force local authorities to divert resources away from other threats. The sabotage campaign is part of a broader Russian hybrid warfare strategy designed to create instability and divert law enforcement attention. European police and security agencies are increasing coordination and preparedness to counter these covert attacks. Authorities caution that the campaign seeks to erode trust and strain cooperation among EU member states, while complicating counterintelligence and investigative efforts.
According to officials cited by the Associated Press on March 20, 2023, Russia is engaging in a sabotage campaign across multiple European countries intended to drain investigative resources. The campaign includes arson and sabotage incidents in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, and France. The attacks have involved fires at warehouses, suspected Russian intelligence operatives, and coordinated actions stretching from the Baltics to Western Europe. European security officials reported that Russia’s goal is to overwhelm law enforcement and security services, forcing them to attend to widespread incidents, decreasing their focus on other threats. The sabotage is designed to foster greater instability and complicate intelligence cooperation among European countries. Officials describe the tactics as hybrid warfare including covert attacks and mobilization of proxy forces. There have been cases of suspected involvement by Russian intelligence and efforts to disguise the attacks. European police forces are increasing cooperation and monitoring for further sabotage activity.
Classified as aggressor event because it describes a Russian sabotage campaign across Europe targeting investigative and security resources. Classified as defense prep event because European law enforcement agencies are increasing cooperation and readiness to counter the sabotage threat.
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