Nicolas Lerner, head of the DGSE foreign intelligence agency, warned that Russia is conducting a multifaceted hybrid war against Europe through online disinformation, espionage, sabotage, and physical operations by intermediaries such as the Wagner Group militia. Around 80 Russian agents were active in France before Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, with 50 since expelled. Lerner described Russian hybrid sabotage incidents across Europe, including sabotage on the Amsterdam-The Hague rail line, disruption of NATO summit-related organizations via denial-of-service attacks, and high-speed rail sabotage in France. Polish authorities accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating a fire at a Warsaw mall, closing a Russian consulate in response. Additionally, three men in South London were convicted of an arson attack on a humanitarian aid depot for Ukraine, hired by Wagner. German media also reported Kremlin-linked cyber attempts on German armed forces. Lerner emphasized Russia poses an existential medium- to long-term threat to European democracies and values.

Nicolas Lerner, head of the DGSE foreign intelligence agency, warned that Russia is conducting a multifaceted hybrid war against Europe through online disinformation, espionage, sabotage, and physical operations by intermediaries such as the Wagner Group militia. Around 80 Russian agents were active in France before Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, with 50 since expelled. Lerner described Russian hybrid sabotage incidents across Europe, including sabotage on the Amsterdam-The Hague rail line, disruption of NATO summit-related organizations via denial-of-service attacks, and high-speed rail sabotage in France. Polish authorities accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating a fire at a Warsaw mall, closing a Russian consulate in response. Additionally, three men in South London were convicted of an arson attack on a humanitarian aid depot for Ukraine, hired by Wagner. German media also reported Kremlin-linked cyber attempts on German armed forces. Lerner emphasized Russia poses an existential medium- to long-term threat to European democracies and values.