The foiled assassination attempt on Rheinmetall boss Armin Pappberger showed how long the Kremlin’s arm has become. From graffiti to assassinations: the Kremlin is waging a ‘shadow war’ against the West.
“Russian intelligence is now like an octopus, using every tentacle at its disposal, with its head currently in Central Europe,” a European intelligence official told the Wall Street Journal.
Russian spies also in Vienna
And according to various media reports, this center of Russian espionage would be located in Vienna. An intelligence official estimated to the magazine that half of the 500 employees at the Russian embassy in Vienna are agents.
Investigative journalist Hristo Grozev, whose Oscar-winning documentary exposed the Kremlin’s attempt to assassinate opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was forced to leave the city because his safety could no longer be guaranteed. An Austrian official on the payroll of Russia was also to blame. When Grozev visits his family in Vienna, he enjoys protection as a head of state.
Murder plot surrounding Rheinmetall boss
And this is by no means an isolated case in Europe, as evidenced by the recently uncovered Kremlin assassination plot involving the head of German arms company Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger. The company had announced it would build a factory to repair damaged tanks in Ukraine and produce ammunition for the Ukrainian army. That put him in the Kremlin’s sights.
Security experts expect such incidents to become more common. According to a NATO official, Russia is waging a “shadow war” against the West, carrying out sabotage operations across NATO countries for more than six months. It is targeting Ukraine’s arms supply lines and the decision-makers behind them. People like Papperger.
“Full range of hybrid warfare”
Russia is using the “full spectrum” of hybrid warfare, a NATO official told Politico magazine. “We see everything. From high-profile espionage operations worth $400,000 to violent acts where gangsters are hired for a few thousand dollars.”
From seven euros for a sprayer to paint pro-Russian graffiti on the walls, to arson attacks on the largest department store in the Polish capital Warsaw last May. The Russian arm is long. Concerns about attacks are growing.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
