European officials warn of growing Russian hybrid threats and espionage

European defense officials and security agencies are warning of intensifying Russian hybrid warfare, espionage, and security threats across the continent. In Sweden, the Security Police revealed it disrupted an active Russian intelligence operation in Stockholm that targeted central political decision-making, as military leaders urged NATO members to prepare for potential Russian efforts to test allied cohesion.

At the same time, geopolitical friction over energy and sanctions is mounting. European enforcement actions against tankers carrying Russian oil prompted President Vladimir Putin to label the seizures piracy and threaten reciprocal measures, an escalation Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described as Russian frustration. Concurrently, Ukraine continued its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, launching long-range drone strikes on refineries in the Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl regions.

Sources: Dagens Industri, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, SVT, Sydsvenskan