Russian intelligence operations intensify across Europe
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian intelligence agencies have ramped up a campaign targeting dissidents and defectors on European soil. Anonymous Western intelligence sources report that this effort now encompasses at least 191 acts of sabotage, arson, and other disruptions linked to Moscow. The primary targets include defected military personnel, Russian activists, and foreign supporters of Ukraine.
High-profile incidents and arrests
Several notable events have emerged as part of this broader operation. In Poland during 2024, authorities arrested a man accused of plotting to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Germany thwarted plans against the head of an arms company and a Ukrainian soldier, while Lithuania disrupted conspiracies targeting a Lithuanian pro-Ukraine figure and a Russian activist. Additionally, in France in April 2025, four individuals from Dagestan were observed surveilling the home of human rights defender Vladimir Osechkin in Biarritz, who has been under police protection since 2022.
- Lithuanian prosecutors have charged 13 people from at least seven different countries.
- Over the past year, roughly 20 individuals have been detained or charged across Europe.
- In 2024, Russian defector and helicopter pilot Maxim Kuzminov was killed in Spain.
The shift toward using proxy operatives in such missions is linked back to the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. That attack prompted the United Kingdom and its allies to expel hundreds of Russian diplomats and intelligence officers.
'There is political authorization,' a senior European intelligence official said on condition of anonymity.
Given the scale of the threat, Western officials stress that 'even if you have thwarted an operation once, you must remain prepared in case they strike again.' Vladimir Osechkin, commenting on the situation, remarked: 'If not for them, I would probably already be dead.'
Ultimately, the heightened activity of Russian intelligence in Europe underscores the serious danger faced by Kremlin opponents and highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to counter these challenges. European nations must unite their efforts to detect and prevent such threats, as they affect not only individual safety but also the security of entire states.
The ongoing threats posed by Russian intelligence are not only immediate but also indicative of broader geopolitical tensions. As Europe prepares for potential challenges from the Kremlin, including tests of NATO's unity and resilience, understanding these dynamics is crucial. For a deeper analysis of how these developments may shape the future security landscape in Europe, see our article on NATO's response to Kremlin pressures by 2029.