Irina Pogorelaya09:58, 11.10.26

At the direction of European intelligence agencies, the personal security of top managers has been strengthened amid the Kremlin’s orders to expand sabotage and “hybrid” operations.

European intelligence agencies have warned defense company executives that Russia has stepped up its attempts to assassinate them. As a result, the companies have stepped up personal security measures for their top managers.

According to the Financial Times  (FT), the Kremlin has ordered an expansion of sabotage and “hybrid” operations in Europe in order to critically weaken European support for Kyiv in the coming months.

As representatives of five European intelligence agencies told the FT, attacks on civilians in Europe, previously considered unacceptable even for Russian intelligence services, are becoming a more significant part of these plans.

They warned that Kremlin agents are targeting executives and other high-ranking employees of defense companies. In particular, the Russian intelligence services are also targeting executives of smaller companies, especially those involved in the production of drones or drone components, the publication’s sources detailed.

“The threat level in Europe has increased. This concerns both property and people,” stated a senior European intelligence official.Read also:

A German intelligence spokesman reported that the agency has significantly stepped up its work with “employees and management” of defense companies, including recommending that they hire personal security teams.

Several defense industry executives, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Financial Times that they had strengthened their personal security over the past six months, following recommendations from intelligence agencies.

Others noted that they resort to such measures only when traveling outside their country.

According to sources in Western intelligence agencies, the GRU is hunting top defense executives and is already adapting its methods to meet new challenges. Specifically, GRU officers have established close cooperation with organized crime groups, utilize cross-border intelligence networks, and distribute tasks—intelligence, logistics, planning, and execution—among various cells or individuals, rather than relying on individual “expendable” agents recruited online for money.

“In a number of cases, planned operations were promptly identified and prevented. In other situations, suspicious activity was recorded, including surveillance of specific individuals’ lifestyles both at home and at work,” the publication wrote.

Security officials emphasized that a key feature of the Russian approach is that assassinations do not even have to be carried out to achieve the desired effect.

“From the Russian point of view, the main goal is psychological,” explained one intelligence officer.

“They achieve their goal simply by making people feel like potential targets. They want people to think twice before doing business with Ukraine.”

However, as one official emphasized, in many cases the actions of Russian agents are amateurish in nature and are easy to counter.

The publication also highlighted another significant issue raised by the current situation. Specifically, industry representatives warned that the cost of implementing extensive safety measures—for both staff and production facilities—could become a significant burden, especially for startups.

Assassination attempt on the head of the German concern Rheinmetall

In July 2024, American and German intelligence agencies uncovered an alleged Russian plan to assassinate Armin Papperger , the CEO of the German defense company Rheinmetall. 

Intelligence reports indicated that Russian agents were considering a high-profile assassination, and Papperger, an outspoken advocate of arms sales to Ukraine, was a particular target.

Since then, Papperger has been under 24-hour security, provided jointly by private security companies and the police.

In January 2025, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General James Appathurai publicly confirmed that the threats against Papperger were part of a broader campaign of sabotage and other hybrid operations targeting countries supporting Ukraine.

(C)UNIAN 2026