NATO has acknowledged that Russia is intensifying its campaign of sabotage and destabilization against European member states of the Alliance, notes the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its analytical report dated January 28.
Experts cite a statement made by NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General James Appathurai in the European Parliament on January 28, indicating that NATO countries have faced "acts of sabotage in recent years, including train derailments, arson, attacks on the property of politicians, and conspiracies against figures in the defense industry, including a Kremlin plot to assassinate Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger."
Appathurai emphasized that the Kremlin aims to "create concern to undermine support for Ukraine" and urged NATO countries to more decisively deter Russian sabotage activities.
"The Kremlin's campaign of sabotage and destabilization, directly targeting NATO countries, confirms ISW's assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin views Russia as waging a leading hybrid war directly against NATO," conclude ISW analysts.