Germany’s domestic intelligence agency BfV has reported an increase in Russian sabotage activities in the European Union and warned of indications that Russian spies are scouting potential agents at German companies by scanning social media profiles.
“The goal would have been to identify individuals who could be susceptible to Russian influence or sabotage efforts,” the agency said in a security statement Friday.
According to the agency, the scale of Russian sabotage attempts in Europe is linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine and increased tensions between Russia and the West.
“The cases observed throughout Europe since 2023 and the increased indications of possible activities in Germany have currently led to an adjusted assessment: there is an increased risk of sabotage activities or corresponding preparatory acts in Germany,” the agency said.
At the same time, cyber attacks by pro-Russian hackers on websites of German companies and government agencies continue to be observed.
So far, the impact of such attacks by so-called “hacktivist” groups has been largely limited, with affected websites only temporarily taken offline, the statement said.
Several cases of arson or attempted arson are currently being investigated in other European countries, as well as vandalism and propaganda activities that could be attributed to Russian intelligence services, the BfV said.
According to the agency, lower-ranking agents are recruited for these purposes, mainly young, Russian-speaking people with pro-Kremlin views who want to make a quick buck.
