European criminals have a new boss, and his name is Vladimir Putin. Some may not realize who is ultimately at the top of the command, when they receive orders through messaging apps to sabotage weapon factories, but the Russian president’s fingerprints are all over these operations.
Over the weekend, Western intelligence services reported that Moscow has triggered a new wave of disruptions, outsourcing attacks on the continent’s defense industry to members of local gangs and disposable soldiers, according to an UnHerd analysis.
There are clear reasons why Russia favors this approach. After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the expulsion of Moscow’s spies severely disrupted its criminal networks abroad, forcing intelligence services to recruit agents remotely. Sabotage has a dual purpose, aiming to affect Europe’s real military aid for Ukraine, as well as the political will that supports it. As British Prime Minister Andy Burnham visits Kiev today, promising to increase Ukraine’s ability to produce its own long-range missiles, Russia’s increased sabotage activity is particularly significant.
The cost of the support provided to Ukraine is significant in countries such as the United Kingdom, where consistent and strong public support for Kiev limits the Kremlin’s ability to use bribery, friendly local politicians, and propaganda to influence public opinion. Instead, it has to resort to coercive methods.
It is not a coincidence that some recruits are themselves Ukrainians. Putin whispers poisonous questions into the ears of Europeans: is it worth supporting Ukraine, enduring high energy prices, offering billions of euros in aid, and paying the bill for refugees, only for this generosity to be rewarded with incendiary bombs?
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