Russian Foreign Intelligence accuses Ukraine of preparing Baltic Sea terror attack

Military and political observer Oleksandr Kovalenko, published by Oboz.ua, reported that while this assertion appears highly dubious, it could be a cover for potential Russian provocations, serving to justify future aggressive actions. According to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the purported attack would be aimed at discrediting Russia and could provide grounds for blocking Russian vessels from passing through the Baltic.

Although the SVR’s statement sounds absurd, especially considering the region’s geography and Ukraine’s lack of direct access to the Baltic, it reflects the service’s tendency to generate disinformation under Sergey Naryshkin’s leadership. This could be part of a broader strategy to create pretexts for further escalation. In recent years, Russia has used hybrid warfare tactics, such as reportedly sabotaging undersea cables and power lines, to disrupt regional stability, particularly in the Baltic.

The Baltic Sea has increasingly become a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions, with Russia involved in ongoing acts of aggression. In 2024, key infrastructure was damaged, and Russia’s shadow fleet has been linked to these incidents. The SVR’s statements may signal that Russia intends to continue using the Baltic as a battleground to destabilize neighboring countries and undermine European security. 

Russia’s use of hybrid tactics, including potential attacks on civilian vessels, could be a strategy to force the West into concessions. This fits into a larger narrative of Russia attempting to weaken NATO's presence in the region. Moreover, Russia’s ambitions to challenge NATO, particularly through direct confrontations with the Baltic states, suggest the threat to the region will continue to escalate. The Kremlin’s ultimate goal may be to use these tactics to regain influence and dominance in the Baltic, with possible long-term implications for European security.

• Western intelligence reports reveal that Russia has created a secret unit called the Department of Special Tasks (SSD) to carry out sabotage and attacks across Europe and beyond.