Was Leipzig just the beginning? WSJ reveals Putin's plan for NATO
Photo: Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an escalation of sabotage operations against NATO countries. As a result, the Alliance could face new hybrid attacks similar to the incident that took place in Leipzig, Germany, on August 5, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The media learned about the Kremlin leader's new plan from three European officials familiar with US intelligence findings.
Insiders claim that Putin's order is linked to the Russian army's lack of significant gains in Ukraine, Ukrainian strikes on military and strategic facilities deep inside Russia, and Kyiv's refusal to accept the peace terms proposed by Moscow.
It is also noted that the Kremlin views the incident in Leipzig as a kind of test run for possible future operations.
One of the WSJ's sources said that after the events in eastern Germany, his informal contact in Moscow warned of the possibility of new attacks.
According to the source, Leipzig will not be the last such incident. The operations are expected to destabilize the situation in Europe and strengthen the positions of political forces opposed to providing military assistance to Ukraine.
The investigation into the incident helped Western intelligence agencies uncover an agent network linked to Moscow. According to investigators, its members were involved in the illegal transportation of explosives, drones, and weapons. Law enforcement officers also discovered safe houses and caches in various European cities.
According to the investigation, the attack was organized by former Russian military officer Oleg Levushkin, who was recruited by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. He is alleged to have coordinated a network that used Serbia as a transit point to deliver drones and explosives to Germany.
Serbian prosecutors have announced the arrest of seven people, including an individual with dual Russian-Serbian citizenship. They are suspected of involvement in the group allegedly led by Levushkin, according to investigators.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned about Putin's plans for Ukraine and Europe.
Meanwhile, amid recent developments, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Europe to close its borders to Russians.
