Russia Launches Manhunt for Europe’s Top Defense Executives, FT Reports
Intelligence officials say the campaign uses organized crime networks and surveillance to pressure firms into slowing support for Ukraine.
- The Financial Times reported on October 11 that Russian intelligence agencies are targeting European defense executives for assassination to intimidate arms manufacturers supplying Ukraine.
- Russian military intelligence, the GRU, coordinates these operations by recruiting local criminal intermediaries and distributing assignments across countries, a tactic designed to obscure direct connections to Moscow.
- Following a January 2025 plot against Armin Papperger, CEO of German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall, several executives have increased personal security over the past six months and one firm relocated production to Western Europe.
- BfV President Sinan Selen warned German lawmakers on Monday that Russia is deliberately planning acts of violence involving state actors, as European intelligence services disrupt surveillance operations near targets' homes and workplaces.
- While some Russian operatives demonstrate limited operational capabilities, allowing European security services to detect threats, smaller defense companies face significant financial burdens protecting employees and sensitive operations from the ongoing campaign.
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Defence industry leaders, including manufacturers of drones and military components, have become among the potential targets of Russian hybrid operations. The information is advanced by five European intelligence agencies to the Financial Times
Russia threatens defense companies doing business with Ukraine.
Russia has drawn up plans to assassinate the heads of European defense agencies, according to Western intelligence agencies. Companies are already stepping up security measures for these individuals. The post Russia is trying to eliminate the heads of European defense industries – What the intelligence agencies say appeared first on in.gr.
The Russians' main goal is psychological impact, to make them reconsider whether to sell weapons to Ukraine.
(London=Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = Western intelligence agencies have warned that Russia is intensifying assassination attempts against executives of European private defense companies...
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