Attack is a sign of the Kremlin’s more aggressive clandestine operations, security officials say
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In the aftermath of last month’s blaze on the outskirts of the German capital, German investigators said the cause was likely an accident. But Western security officials now say the fire was set by Russian saboteurs trying disrupt shipments of critical arms and ammunition to Ukraine.
European countries, seeking to avoid escalation, have been cautious about publicly blaming Moscow, but privately security officials say Russia appears to be stepping up attacks on civilian and military sites and people in Europe connected with efforts to help Ukraine fend off invading Russian troops.
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Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the security officials said, dozens of incidents have taken place across Europe, many potentially the work of Russia’s intelligence services aiming to curb arms production, pressure politicians and sow panic.
Targeting civilian infrastructure, such as wind farms and pipelines, also aims at intimidating investors as European economies are struggling, officials say. Data cables and pipelines in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea regions were cut by civilian ships linked to Russia, according to prosecutors, investigators and government officials.
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“It is part of a hybrid war waged against us by Russia against which we have to defend ourselves and which we must stop,” the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said about the case. “Russia is repeatedly trying to sow unrest and undermine our citizens’ trust in the state.”
Suspected attacks that were planned or have taken place in the past two years include sabotage of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic; an arson attack in Britain, which triggered the expulsion of the Russian military attaché from the country; and a simultaneous cutting of two data cables that paralyzed part of the German railway system for hours.
Two German-Russian dual nationals were arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning attacks on American military bases and other targets, shortly before caches of explosives were discovered buried along a special overland pipeline that supplies air force bases in Germany.