Russia recruits Ukrainians for sabotage in Europe: how the scheme works through messengers.

Sabotage actions of Russian special services in Europe

According to TSN.ua: Russian special services are actively involving Ukrainians in sabotage actions in Europe, particularly through messengers and gaming platforms. In 2024, 34 arson and serious sabotage acts related to Russia were recorded in Europe, which is a significant increase compared to previous years. In 2023, 12 acts were recorded, and in 2022 - only 2.

Motives for recruitment and vulnerable groups

The main motives for recruiting Ukrainians to participate in these acts are money. The vulnerable groups considered for recruitment are:

• teenagers
• migrants
• elderly people with military experience in the Soviet Army

The payment for sabotage actions ranges from hundreds to thousands of euros and is often promised in cryptocurrency. It is noted that hostile actors now outsource inexpensive tasks to one-time individuals, or 'one-day agents' who are recruited online.

In November 2025, two suspected Ukrainians fled to Belarus after an explosion on the railway line in Poland. A particularly insidious tactic of Russian special services is that they exploit the trust in Ukrainian law enforcement agencies to achieve their hostile goals. This underscores the need for increased awareness and security measures among potential recruitment victims.

A study by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) indicates that the gig economy era has also influenced Russian sabotage, opening up new opportunities for conducting such crimes. The operation 'under a false flag' is becoming more common, where the use of foreign individuals to conduct sabotage actions is becoming a usual occurrence. This trend raises concerns among European countries, which intend to strengthen their security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The increase in the number of sabotage acts related to Russia indicates a change in the tactics of Russian special services, which seek to use vulnerable population groups in Ukraine to achieve their goals. In the context of growing socio-economic instability in Ukraine, it is important to raise public awareness about the dangers associated with recruitment for hostile actions. Poland and other European countries, in particular, may find this a new challenge for their security and law enforcement systems.