Russia Recruiting Migrants via Telegram for Arson and Sabotage in EU, Czech Intel Reveals
Russia is recruiting migrants from outside the European Union to commit crimes, spread fear and undermine trust in governments, according to a 2024 report by Czech intelligence (BIS).
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Politico.
Czech intelligence officials said Russia uses Telegram to recruit potential agents to carry out various criminal activities, such as filming military bases or logistics centres for military aid destined for Ukraine, or committing arson.
The BIS noted that these actions, in addition to their primary goal of gathering information or causing damage, are also intended to cause psychological harm.
‘This includes weakening the cohesion of Western societies, spreading fear and uncertainty, undermining public confidence in the state's ability to protect its citizens, and increasing pressure to reduce support for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression,’ the report said.
Czech intelligence emphasised that in many cases, agents are unaware that they are working for Russia because they are hired through intermediaries.
In addition, the BIS emphasised that Moscow is also spreading its influence through the Russian Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic, which is completely loyal to the Kremlin.
It should be noted that since 2022, the Czech Republic has been keeping its own list of names of those who support Putin's regime and imposing national sanctions against them. The list already includes Moscow Patriarch Kirill, Russian businessman Vladimir Yevtushenkov and his son Felix, chief rocket designer of the Russian Federation Boris Obnosov, and Viktor Medvedchuk.
Last year, the Czech Republic issued a warrant for the arrest of Andrei Averyanov, one of the highest-ranking officers of the GRU, who was responsible for the explosions at ammunition depots in Vrbětice in 2014.
And on 2 April, the Czech government added Belarusian ‘journalist’ Natalia Sudlyankova and her Russian military intelligence handler Alexei Shavrov to the national sanctions list.
Read more: Expert Analysis: Europe Prepares for War with Russia, Views Ukraine as Key to Its Security