**Ukraine and Europe Warn of Russian Coercion Tactics**
Russian operatives are using sophisticated tactics to recruit individuals, especially pensioners, into a covert sabotage campaign across Ukraine and Europe. According to Ukrainian law enforcement, the scammers target elderly people through phone calls, often impersonating officers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) or the National Police.
**The Coercion Tactics**
Victims are then blackmailed into carrying out missions for Russia, with the promise of a “way out” if they comply. In some cases, pensioners are told that a medicine or supplement they bought is banned because it was produced in Russia, and that their purchase amounts to “collaboration with the enemy.” This is just one common scheme used by Russian operatives.
**The Recruitment Process**
In Ukraine, scammers typically contact victims via Viber, while in the Baltic states, locals are often recruited through Telegram. These individuals are lured into carrying out sabotage missions using money or kompromat (compromising information). A European intelligence official revealed that Moscow views these recruits as expendable and discards them once they’re no longer useful.
**The Goal: International Sabotage**
Russia’s strategy is clear: recruit people who are unaware they have become pawns in a campaign of international sabotage. By using coercion tactics, Russian operatives aim to create chaos and confusion across Ukraine and Europe.
**Ukraine’s Warning**
Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasizes that legitimate security agencies never issue illegal or covert orders to citizens. The SBU has reported attempts by Russian operatives to recruit minors, with efforts beginning with photographing sensitive sites or tagging graffiti, escalating to acts of sabotage against railway and energy infrastructure.
**The Double Wave Effect**
In Europe, the Russians recruit Ukrainian agents to cause a double wave: shock in the West and propaganda within Russia. This tactic is designed to create a sense of unease and instability across the continent.
As reported by Euromaidan Press (@euromaidanpress.com), it’s essential for citizens to be aware of these tactics and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
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