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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The attempt by a Russian attack on a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig airport signals a new level of Kremlin's hybrid terror in Europe. Official Berlin has already begun mirrored restrictions, but the West must act far more decisively.
Former SBU employee Ivan Stupak told 24 Channel that Russia's sabotage activity in the European Union is rapidly expanding and going beyond petty mischief. According to him, the enemy has shifted from provocations to direct arson, explosions, and psychological pressure on the West.
What to do with Russia's diplomatic missions?
The expert emphasized that the first and urgent step for European countries should be a complete closure of the so-called Kremlin cultural centers. In his view, such institutions have no right to operate under conditions of hybrid aggression.
What Europeans should do first is close the representations of the "Russian House" on European Union territory. Worldwide there are about 70 offices of this "cultural center" of Russia. They study matryoshkas and the history of the samovar, and Europeans should not be interested in that,
— stressed Stupak.
He noted that all such centers operate under the roof of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service. In particular, the structure is led by the grandson of the former head of Soviet foreign intelligence.
In addition, a critically important measure is the radical reduction of the number of Russian diplomatic personnel in Europe. The enemy actively uses diplomatic immunity to carry out espionage and sabotage operations,
— believes Ivan Stupak.
To this end, according to the former SBU officer, there is a need to cut unnecessary staff of Russian diplomatic missions in European countries. For comparison, he cited figures: Hungary stated that almost a third of the staff of the diplomatic mission in Budapest were representatives of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, military intelligence, and the FSB.
The former SBU officer explained how Europe should protect itself from Russia's provocations: watch the video.
In Germany, near Leipzig-Halle airport, 14 in August, a third drone with traces of explosive material was found. It was discovered ten days after the first such incident on the airfield. Investigators are processing DNA evidence found, which may indicate involvement of foreign intelligence services. 1 In September, German Interior Minister (Alexander) Dohrindt officially accused Russia of the drone incident. In response, the country closes the Russian General Consulate in Bonn and terminates the agreement on the operation of the Russian cultural center "Russkiy dom" in Berlin.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Мала б зробити давно: як Європа повинна реагувати на виявлення дронів із вибухівкою у Лейпцигу". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Channel 24.
