Russia may stage sabotage in Eastern Europe, but wants Kyiv blamed, Ukraine’s Intelligence warns

Ukraine's Defense Intelligence has warned that Russia may carry out sabotage in Eastern Europe, intending to falsely blame Ukraine for the attacks, according to a Telegram post from 23 October. This prediction comes on the heels of a report from The Wall Street Journal, which stated that US intelligence attributes Europe's recent sabotage wave to an order from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

If Russia proceeds with these attacks and attributes them to Ukraine, European sentiment could shift to support Kyiv instead of the Kremlin, according to Ukraine's Intelligence. This warning is a step beyond the agency's earlier statement on 2 October, which listed potential targets but did not mention this specific plan to pin the blame on Ukraine.

The intelligence agency states that Moscow aims to tarnish Ukraine's military reputation and weaken the European Union through a hybrid strategy. The agency has identified two primary objectives: diminishing foreign support for Ukraine by discrediting its Defense Forces, and instilling fear in European governments and societies.

Potential targets for Russian provocations include critical infrastructure, areas near Russia, regions with Russian-speaking populations, properties owned by the Russian Orthodox Church, and historical sites with ties to Russia. These potential targets reflect Ukraine's assessment of possible threats, but they do not confirm that attacks at these locations are planned.