Russian intelligence trains saboteurs to target Europe
Investigative journalist Christo Grozev reveals that Russian GRU intelligence is preparing saboteurs for operations in Europe, recruiting them from Latin America and Afghanistan. The Russians aim to divert European countries' attention from the war in Ukraine and discourage them from providing aid.
According to Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev, the Russian GRU intelligence is intensely training saboteurs to carry out operations in Western countries, primarily in Europe. In a recording released on Friday, he emphasised that many of them come from Latin America and Afghanistan.
Among those being trained are foreigners with criminal backgrounds, individuals who studied in Russia and were recruited, as well as those who came to Russia intentionally, like Venezuelans and Cubans.
In a YouTube interview, Grozev noted that over the past two years, GRU has recruited many young Afghans, some of whom ended up in Europe as refugees.
Grozev claims that Russia has created its own "sabotage school." This decision stemmed from three factors: the unmasking of about a hundred Russian spies, the deaths of many agents during the war in Ukraine, and restrictions imposed by the West on Russian diplomacy.
"It can be said that there are about 80-100 people who travelled the world, organised sabotage and coups, and recruited agents. (...) Currently, they are almost nonexistent, most diplomats have been expelled, and those who once travelled the world are now training foreigners for tasks they once performed," Grozev stated.
Russian acts of sabotage in Europe
The journalist reminded that these actions resulted in acts of sabotage in Poland and the Czech Republic, and explosive devices were discovered in DHL warehouses. "The Moscow Times" portal reminded that the national security advisor to the President of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, stated that the Russian military intelligence was behind the preparation of the attacks.
In December, the Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavsky, said that Russia might be involved in a hundred incidents that took place in Europe in 2024. "The New York Times" wrote that Russia was involved in package explosions in European countries and planned similar sabotage in the United States.
