Russia is preparing attacks in Europe

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European intelligence services warn that Russia is planning sabotage and violent attacks across the continent. That’s what the newspaper writes Financial Times on Sunday.

Sources told the paper that the attacks include bombings, arson attacks and attacks on key infrastructure. There is also an obvious risk of civilian casualties, writes the FT.

Kremlin agents have a long history of similar operations but now there are increasing signs of a more aggressive and coordinated effort, sources in several European countries spoke to the Financial Times said.

The newspaper enumerates several cases in recent times where the perpetrators are believed to be connected to Russia.

Two men were charged in Britain at the end of April for starting a fire in a warehouse containing aid shipments bound for Ukraine. The men are suspected of having worked on behalf of Russia.

Russia has tried to destroy the signaling systems on Czech railways, the country’s transport minister Martin Kupka said in April. According to Kupka, it is about thousands of sabotage attempts since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

In Sweden, a number of railway derailments are being investigated, which FT links to Russia. At the end of February, one tracked train out on the strategically important Malmbanan. Another train derailed at the same location in December. The derailments on the Malmbanan have also been explained by problems with the track itself. The Swedish Traffic Agency admits that there are problems with the Malmbanan and has announced that it will be upgraded. Last year, the car of the Estonian Minister of the Interior was also vandalized, the country’s intelligence service reported in February. Ten people with Russian and Estonian citizenship were arrested for the sabotage. Already on Thursday, the NATO defense alliance condemned “malicious” Russian activity in several NATO countries. According to the statement the Russian hybrid attacks have intensified recently.