russia is ramping up hybrid provocations in Europe: espionage, “shadow fleet,” and drones
In Poland, two russian citizens have been charged with spying for the fsb. According to the investigation, in 2022 they collected and transmitted information to russian intelligence about russian opposition figures residing in Poland, as well as about individuals and institutions assisting them.
At the same time, Western intelligence agencies have recorded russia using a “shadow fleet” as a platform to launch drones into the airspace of EU and NATO countries. Drones appeared near military facilities and caused temporary airport shutdowns in Denmark, Norway, Germany, Belgium, and other states. The European Parliament has already pointed to russia’s involvement in these incidents.
The goal of these actions is multi-level destabilization: intelligence gathering and sabotage under “plausible deniability,” testing air defense and civil aviation security systems, putting pressure on Ukraine’s allies, and undermining trust in institutions. Ritual “repainting” of ships, switched-off transponders, route changes, and the use of cryptocurrencies are all elements of the same hybrid scheme.
The Center previously reported that russia’s “shadow fleet” not only circumvents sanctions but also poses environmental and security threats. In addition to recorded oil spills off European coasts, current signals of drone reconnaissance from these tankers confirm that these vessels are tools of a broader hybrid operation combining espionage, sabotage, and information pressure.
