FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
KIEV – At first, it just seemed trivial. A window broken by a vandal. But there was something strange: they had shattered that glass, mocking the escort. And the car belonged to Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets. And they had been Russians. And at the same time, on February 20, another dozen saboteurs had also struck the cars of anti-Russian journalists. Therefore no vandalism, the 007 of the Eiss, the Tallinn services, established: «A hybrid warfare operation», the first case.
After Estonia, it was the turn of Czech Republic: An attempt to destroy railway safety systems. Then, Sweden: strange derailments on the tracks. So, Great Britain: two arrested, who set fire to aid warehouses for Ukraine. It’s still: Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland. Up to Bayreuth, Bavaria, with two Russian-German citizens who had planned to attack German military sites. Not to mention the mysterious fire in Berlin, last Friday, in a factory that supplies defense systems to Kiev…
Transport, energy networks, companies, web. Too many coincidences: be careful, European intelligence services are now warning, Russia is planning “violent acts of sabotage across the continent.” A wave that has already begun and could grow, hitting civilians: although the Kremlin has «a long history in this type of operation, and in recent years has launched sporadic attacks in Europe, now there is increasing evidence of a more aggressive and focused.” It’s hybrid warfare in our house, which Ukrainians have been predicting for some time. An alarm that would be substantiated by various ongoing investigations. NATO spy agencies say that there is bad behavior taking place, “clear and convincing evil actions”, and it is necessary «raise awareness and focus attention» on possible threats. Moscow has “already started preparing secret bombings” – reveals the Financial Times —, arson and infrastructure attacks on European soil, directly or indirectly, apparently with little concern for causing civilian casualties.” Hacking and sabotage, violence and interference, electronic storms e desinformatsiya. Even simple wars of words: a few days ago the deputy head of Ukrainian military security, Vadym Skibitskyi, explained that «the Kremlin propaganda is preparing a campaign of delegitimization around the world” on Zelensky, to destroy its image and accompany the imminent Russian military offensive. «We know the name that Putin gave to this operation», added Skibitskyi: «Maidan 2», to cite the 2014 uprising that overthrew the pro-Russian government (the Kremlin has always dismissed it as a coup) and thus envisage a counter-coup.
That Russia was not exactly a partner for Europe – a senior NATO official, Rob Bauer, said a few weeks ago – “we have known for some time”: at least since the invasion of Georgia in 2008. In reality, Bauer thought, in these 802 days of threats there has always been “a lot of rhetoric for internal use”. But now we are changing our minds. And Thomas Haldenwang, head of the German 007, admits that hybrid warfare is already here, «the risk of sabotage acts controlled by Russia has increased significantly», in our countries there is “a high potential for damage”.
For the moment the threats are masked with the usual masquerades: Putin swears in the constitution tomorrow a celebration of the new presidential six-year term, and yesterday in Moscow he went to pray in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. «He is a madman – commented the Ukrainian president -. We only kneel in prayer, never before him: I believe that God has a braid with our flag on his shoulder.” «What is this story about the braid on God’s shoulder? — the Russian spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, replied sarcastically — Is it an ancient ritual from Mesopotamia? Zelensky is in overdose.”
