Poland leads arrests on Russia’s ‘one-time’ agents in Europe, Ukraine spy agency says

Russia is turning to “one-time” operatives for sabotage in Europe, with Poland recording the most arrests, Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service said, after nearly 700 Moscow officers posing as diplomats were expelled since the full-scale invasion.

At least 130 people in 12 European countries have been suspected of cooperating with Russia. Poland recorded 47 espionage cases, Estonia 20, Latvia 19, Germany 12 and the United Kingdom 10, the service said.

Photo: shutterstock.com/ronstik

Europe has ejected close to 700 Russian intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover, the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service said. In response, Moscow is increasingly recruiting civilians for single, discrete operations intended to shield long-term assets.

These assignments can include arson or distributing pro-Russian or provocative leaflets, the agency said.

The largest diplomatic expulsions occurred in Bulgaria (82), followed by Germany (65), Poland (58), Romania (52), Slovakia (39) and the Netherlands and Slovenia (34 each), according to the service.

Recruiters are tapping the internet, social networks, religious communities, sports clubs and mass events to find “single-use” helpers, often for one task or limited information gathering, the agency said.

At least 130 people in 12 European countries have been suspected of cooperating with Russia. Poland recorded 47 espionage cases, Estonia 20, Latvia 19, Germany 12 and the United Kingdom 10, the service said.

Ukraine’s intelligence service urged Ukrainians and other Europeans to remain vigilant to avoid becoming instruments of Russian aggression.

(jh)

Source: Polskie Radio 24