Intelligence officials report a significant increase in Russian assassination attempts against opponents in Europe since 2022, involving activists and Ukraine supporters, with multiple foiled plots and ongoing threats.

Multiple Western intelligence and law enforcement agencies report increased Russian attempts to assassinate opponents in Europe since 2022, targeting Russian activists, defectors, and Ukraine supporters. Cases include a 2025 French plot involving men from Dagestan surveilling Russian activist Vladimir Osechkin in Biarritz, Lithuania thwarting assassination plots including a bomb in an activist's mailbox and a gunman detained near Ruslan Gabbasov’s home, and a 2024 Polish arrest related to a plot against Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Moscow allegedly uses proxies linked to Russian military intelligence and organized crime. Officials warn targets remain at risk despite foiled attempts.