According to intelligence reports shared by the Associated Press, the Kremlin is escalating a campaign of targeted assassinations and sabotage across Europe as part of a brutal hybrid warfare strategy.
An Assassination Campaign: Why Russia Changed the Rules?
The Associated Press reported on Thursday, May 6, 2026, that Russian services have long been accused of silencing enemies abroad. Since the full-scale war in Ukraine began, Russia has intensified an assassination campaign targeting opponents in Europe.
Information obtained by AP from high-ranking Western intelligence officials reveals a bold new Kremlin strategy: a campaign of targeted assassinations and sabotage conducted with the political approval of Russia’s highest authorities. Analysts warn this represents a brutal phase of hybrid warfare rather than classic espionage.
Beyond Dissidents: An Expanded List of Kremlin Targets
Intelligence sources suggest that Russian operations have become more aggressive and are being carried out with increasing audacity. The targets are no longer limited to Russian activists in exile, but now include citizens of nations standing with Kyiv.
A Western intelligence official cited by the Associated Press stated that such attacks are not accidental or coincidental, emphasizing that there is political authorization for these actions.
From Rzeszów to Berlin: Where Counterintelligence Won the Race Against Time
In recent months, European counterintelligence services have thwarted several major operations. Lithuanian services reported dismantling plots to assassinate a pro-Ukraine activist and a Russian activist in exile. In Germany, investigators prevented an attack on Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, who supplies weapons to Ukraine, as well as an attack on a Ukrainian military officer.
Poland was also mentioned in reports regarding Russian operations. Last year, the ABW detained a man suspected of preparing an attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Investigators stated the planned attack was to take place at the Rzeszów airport, and the suspect attempted to establish contact with Russian special services.
How Moscow’s “Cheap Subcontractors” Operate
Western services have recorded nearly 200 cases of sabotage, arson, and other acts of diversion linked to Russia since the start of the invasion. Increasingly, these operations utilize “subcontractors”—individuals recruited on an ad hoc basis without formal ties to Russian intelligence.
These subcontractors carry out tasks assigned by intermediaries connected to Kremlin services. Analysts suggest the current scale of operations may indicate Russia’s transition into a long-term hybrid war against states supporting Ukraine.