
NATO Documents 59 Russian-Linked Sabotage Incidents Across Europe Since Ukraine Invasion
Sixty acts of sabotage
Europe stands watchful
The Associated Press has documented 59 incidents across Europe that Western officials attribute to Russia and its proxies since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, revealing an extensive campaign of sabotage and disruption [1][2].
According to NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General James Appathurai, these operations serve a dual purpose: creating political instability within European nations and undermining support for Ukraine [1]. The incidents range from infrastructure attacks to disinformation campaigns, with the highest concentration occurring in countries that strongly support Ukraine.
Notable incidents include:
Explosive packages at shipping facilities in Germany and the UK, suspected to be part of a plot targeting cargo planes bound for North AmericaDamage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including a power cable connecting Estonia and FinlandAn alleged plot to assassinate the head of a major German arms manufacturerCyber attacks targeting political figures and critical infrastructureCoordinated disinformation campaigns, including a fake French Defense Ministry websiteThe Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, has denied all allegations, stating that no evidence has been presented to support these claims [1]. However, prosecutors have successfully brought charges in approximately 25% of the documented cases [3].
NATO has responded by launching a dedicated mission to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea [4]. Intelligence experts emphasize that increased cooperation among Western allies is crucial for countering these threats, particularly as U.S. support for Ukraine wavers and questions arise about Washington's reliability as a security partner.