The Russian military intelligence service operates in a mode of conducting military operations. This involves a broad range of operations, such as the collection of information based on experiences in Poland with the dismantling of a network installing wireless cameras along communication routes, mostly rail. These cameras were used to gather information about the quantity and nature of transports from Western Europe to Ukraine. There were also considerations for potential acts of sabotage by placing trackers in these transports to determine when and where they crossed the Polish border, as well as where and when they would be in Ukraine, for potential military attacks by placing explosive devices in these transports. Another example can be found in Germany, where it was found that Russian services were extensively reviewing the profiles of a German chemical company on social media. They were looking for potential employees who were willing and capable of being recruited to work for Russian intelligence. Information warfare also involves spreading fear through acts that extend beyond terrorist attacks, such as massive fires, which heighten a sense of danger among citizens. Therefore, fear is utilized as a tool of terror.
“When we talk about hybrid warfare or hybrid actions, they wouldn’t exist without the operation of intelligence services. This is in regards to both operational intelligence, as well as counterintelligence or other security services, as these tasks overlap depending on the areas where a particular service operates and is responsible for,” said Retired Colonel Maciej Matysiak, an expert at Stratpoints Foundation and former deputy head of the SKW, in an interview with eNewsroom.pl. “The main role here is played by the Russian military intelligence service, which collects information through open sources, recruits personal sources of information, as well as sends its staff or previously recruited agents to these countries. So, it involves gathering information. In Poland, the agricultural protests were an example, being exploited to introduce pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian slogans. We can see among extremist politicians, regardless of whether they are far-right or far-left, the dissemination of slogans and persuasions that the war in Ukraine is not our war, that there’s no point in helping, prolongating this war, and that Russia is ideologically or socially closer to us. This coincides with the Russian narrative closely, therefore our society’s surveillance or attempts to infiltrate our state system have been, are, and will be taking place for as long as Russia does not cease its operations in Ukraine,” added Maciej Matysiak.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/wojna-hybrydowa-kremla-rosyjski-wywiad-destabilizuje-europe-przez-sabotaz-inwigilacje-i-sianie-strachu-15581
