Russia forms new secret unit for sabotage in Europe – WSJ
Photo: Russia has created a special service for sabotage and attacks across Europe (GettyImages)
Russia has created a new covert unit to carry out sabotage and attacks in Europe and beyond. It is known as the Special Tasks Department (SSD), reports The Wall Street Journal.
Representatives of Western intelligence agencies have disclosed information about a new secret unit of the Russian special services created to conduct covert attacks throughout Europe and beyond.
The unit, the Special Tasks Department (SSD), is based at Russia's military intelligence headquarters on the outskirts of Moscow, in a glass and steel complex known as the Aquarium.
Established in 2023, the unit consists of experienced agents who have been involved in several high-profile operations, such as the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal. It is headed by Colonel General Andrey Averyanov, who has a reputation as a veteran of the Chechen wars and is wanted by Czech police for his involvement in an ammunition bombing in 2014.
His deputy, Lieutenant General Ivan Kasyanenko, coordinated not only operations against Western countries but also the activities of private military companies such as PMC Wagner after the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
SSD has three key tasks: committing assassinations and sabotage abroad, infiltrating Western companies and universities, and recruiting foreign agents. The department is active in Ukraine and countries allied with Russia, such as Serbia.
Many of the SSD's operations, including assassination attempts and acts of sabotage, are aimed at weakening the West's position in response to its support for Ukraine. One of the most high-profile incidents was using incendiary devices on planes carrying cargo for DHL, as well as attempted arson attacks in major European cities, including Leipzig and Warsaw.
The European Union and the United States have already imposed sanctions on some members of the unit, accusing them of organizing coups, assassinations, and cyberattacks. The Kremlin denied the accusations, calling them unfounded.
Western intelligence services are concerned about the SSD's activities, citing threats from Russia, and recommending that they strengthen their own covert operations to counter Russian aggressive actions.
According to experts, in order to deter further threats, the United States and its allies need to be more active in counterintelligence and support covert operations, especially in Russia.
As a reminder, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office has indicted three men accused of spying for Russia. They have both German and Russian citizenship.
