Russia ramps up attempts to kill opponents and sabotage across Europe
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 7
Russia ramps up attempts to kill opponents and sabotage across Europe
9 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 7
New details include a 2025 surveillance plot against activist Vladimir Osechkin in France, Lithuanian cases involving an AirTag and mailbox bomb, and 191 Russia-linked disruptive acts mapped since 2022.
Officials say Moscow increasingly uses proxies, including recruits tied to organised crime, to target Russian activists, defectors and supporters of Ukraine in France, Lithuania, Germany, Poland and Spain.
Lithuanian prosecutors charged 13 people from at least seven countries, while officials say many plots were foiled but still intimidate critics and drain European security resources.
As Russia’s shadow war escalates, how can Europe dismantle proxy networks without triggering open conflict?
With AI now powering Russia's disinformation, is Europe prepared for this new era of cognitive warfare?
Kremlin Insecurity and the Surge of Targeted Attacks on Russian Military Leadership in 2026
Overview
In early 2026, a series of targeted attacks on senior Russian military figures, including the assault on Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alexeyev, heightened Kremlin insecurity and led to tightened security measures around President Putin. These attacks, combined with Russia's deteriorating war situation and internal dissent, fueled paranoia and drastic restrictions on Putin's movements. Russia's covert operations rely on exotic poisons and proxy agents to maintain deniability while destabilizing Europe. In response, European nations have strengthened intelligence sharing, disrupted plots, and enhanced protection for vulnerable individuals. Meanwhile, global legal and diplomatic pressures, including sanctions enforcement and investigations, further strain Russia, intensifying its isolation and internal security focus.