European defense industry executives, from major groups to smaller drone manufacturers, are reportedly being targeted by Russian assassination plots, according to a report in the Financial Times . Western intelligence agencies are warning of an increased risk of targeted attacks, estimating that Moscow seeks to intimidate those who support Ukraine ‘s equipment and weaken their cooperation with Kiev in the coming months.
The newspaper cites information from five European intelligence agencies , which describe a broadening of the threat. The focus of the warnings now lies not only on facilities and infrastructure, but also on the very people who run operations critical to the Ukrainian war effort. According to the publication, the Kremlin has ordered the expansion of sabotage operations and other hybrid actions in Europe .
Of particular concern is the interest in executives of companies that produce unmanned aerial vehicles and their components . The potential threats are not limited to the well-known names in the defense industry, but also affect smaller companies in the production chain. In Germany , the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, BfV , has intensified contacts with companies in the sector, in the context of addressing the increased risk.
The warnings have already affected the daily lives of executives. Several heads of defense companies told the Financial Times, on condition of anonymity, that over the past six months they have increased their personal protection, following specific recommendations from state security agencies. Others said they apply additional measures when traveling abroad. These testimonies reflect the concern caused by the authorities’ briefings, without the publication naming the individuals who have been warned.
According to the sources cited by the newspaper, in some cases the authorities have identified and prevented attack plans that were in progress. In others they have recorded suspicious movements, including the systematic monitoring of specific individuals near their work and home, as well as the recording of their daily habits. This evidence reinforces, according to the security services, the need to protect those considered potential targets.
At the center of the relevant assessments is the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency , which is mainly responsible for such operations. The publication links them to the term “wet work”, which is used in the terminology of Russian secret services for operations with lethal force.
The same sources describe an adaptation of GRU methods , with closer cooperation with organized crime groups and the use of networks operating in more countries. According to this information, different groups or individuals take on individual roles in monitoring, supporting, planning and executing operations.
However, security officials point out that Moscow’s pursuit does not necessarily require an attack. Intimidation is a means of pressure in itself . The feeling that a businessman or senior executive is being watched and in danger can affect his willingness to maintain or expand cooperation with Ukraine.
This is, according to the estimates reported by the Financial Times, the broader goal of the threats. To link business cooperation with Kiev to a personal security cost , so that those involved in its supply hesitate before the next deal. The pressure is thus directed at the decision-makers, with the intended result of damaging the continuity of European defense support for Ukraine .
