Western intelligence services have warned general directors and other high-ranking employees of defense industry companies that they are targeted by Kremlin agents.
According to officials from five European intelligence services, who have discussed with Financial Times, Russia is intensifying its efforts to assassinate directors of European companies in the defense industry, prompting firms to strengthen personal security measures for top management.
In circumstances where the situation on the Ukrainian front remains stalled, and the Russian economy faces difficulties, the Kremlin has ordered the expansion of sabotage operations and “hybrid” ones in Europe, in an attempt to weaken the support given to Kiev.
According to intelligence services, assassinations targeting European civilians, once considered taboo even by Russian spy agencies, are becoming an important component of these plans.
The directors of smaller companies are also targeted, especially those who produce drones or components for them.
“The level of threat has increased in Europe. Both in terms of material goods and people”, declared a high-ranking European official from the intelligence services.
Sinan Selen, the head of the German internal intelligence service (BfV), told German parliamentarians on Monday: “Russia is involved in the deliberate planning of acts of violence against individuals, through state actors or those controlled by the state”.
Selen further stated: “We observe an evolution of these actions in terms of targets, methods, and involved actors, including through the use of organized crime structures.”
Several directors from the defense industry, who spoke under the protection of anonymity, told the Financial Times that, in the last six months, they have increased personal protection measures, at the recommendation of government security services.
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