Kremlin sabotage plans pose new threats amid NATO tensions
"Intelligence agencies warn 'Kremlin plotting acts of sabotage on Continent' amid escalation of a stand-off with NATO," reports the British daily "The Telegraph." In this context, the fire at the London warehouse, Swedish trail derailments, Ikea in Vilnius, and a shopping center in Warsaw are also mentioned, the newspaper points out.
Recent incidents, including a warehouse fire in London, a fire at an Ikea store in Vilnius, train derailments in Sweden, and the fire at the shopping center in Warsaw, may appear unrelated but could share a common thread.
"It was Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, who began joining the dots to suggest the West was under attack by Russian espionage," writes the British daily "The Telegraph."
These claims are taking on greater significance following a recent arrest in France. A former Russian soldier was detained north of Paris this week after an explosion in his hotel room caused by explosive materials.
Western agencies have warned for several weeks about possible sabotage by Russia. These warnings include reports of GRU saboteurs who specialize in such operations.
Agencies caution that the Russians are enlisting human smuggling gangs, which, according to the newspaper's sources, poses additional threats.
Another element of Russia's behaviour
"The Telegraph" recalls the statement of a Western counterintelligence officer, who told the "Financial Times" that "There is a greater chance of collateral damage and casualties as the proxies are not skilled in tradecraft, such as explosives."
"We are seeing sabotage continue as another ascent of Russia's behaviour," a source told "The Telegraph."
