U.S. intelligence agencies issued a strong warning on Thursday, calling on American businesses to enhance security measures due to an increase in Russian sabotage activities targeting Ukraine’s European allies.
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) published a bulletin emphasizing the escalating risks to companies aiding Ukraine’s military efforts during Moscow’s ongoing invasion. The alert follows several covert Russian actions designed to disrupt critical infrastructure and erode allies’ confidence in Ukraine’s defense.
“Russia’s sabotage activities in Europe increase the risk to U.S. companies abroad and potentially at home,” the officials wrote in the warning. “Such sabotage operations can sow fear and doubt, damage important infrastructure, disrupt commerce, or cause injury and death.”
Recent actions attributed to Russian operatives include arson attacks targeting defense firms and logistics hubs in the United Kingdom and Poland, as well as efforts to infiltrate utilities and military facilities. Intelligence officials revealed that Russian agents frequently collaborate with local criminal networks to execute these operations, allowing Moscow to maintain plausible deniability.
The advisory underscored that these activities aim to weaken confidence among Ukraine’s allies and disrupt critical supply chains essential to Kyiv’s defense against Russian aggression.
Companies involved in defense production or logistics were specifically advised to reevaluate their security measures and stay alert for potential threats.
The bulletin also highlighted Russia’s increasingly bold destabilization efforts. Earlier this month, Western security agencies uncovered Moscow’s role in an attempt to smuggle incendiary devices onto cargo planes destined for North America, which caused fires at a courier facility in Germany and a storage site in England.
These incidents are part of Russia’s broader hybrid warfare strategy, which includes cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and sabotage intended to undermine Western unity and support for Ukraine. Moscow has consistently denied involvement in such actions.
American companies, particularly those operating internationally or tied to defense and critical infrastructure, are urged to strengthen security protocols and collaborate with local and international authorities to reduce risks.
