Czech Counterintelligence: Russia Recruits Migrants for Sabotage in Europe via Telegram

Russia is recruiting migrants outside the European Union to perform sabotage and other crimes, spread fear, and undermine trust in governments.

This was stated in the 2024 report of the Czech Security and Information Service (BIS – Bezpečnostní informační služba), which is responsible for counterintelligence, according to Politico.

Russia uses the Telegram messenger to recruit potential agents.

Czech counterintelligence officials said that those who agree to cooperate receive tasks from Russian special services to commit various crimes, such as filming military bases or logistics centers through which military aid for Ukraine passes, or committing arson.

The special services noted that these actions, in addition to their main goal of gathering information or causing harm, are also intended to cause psychological damage.

“This includes weakening the cohesion of Western societies, spreading fear and uncertainty, undermining public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens, and increasing pressure to reduce support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression,” the report said.

The Czech counterintelligence service emphasized that in many cases, agents are unaware that they are working for Russia because they are hired through intermediaries.

In addition, the BIS emphasized that Moscow is also spreading its influence through the Russian Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic, which is completely loyal to the Kremlin.

Earlier, thanks to the prompt actions of counterintelligence in the Czech Republic, it was possible to expose a Russian agent network that was planning to influence the upcoming EU elections.

China’s activities

At the end of May, the Czech government accused China of a cyberattack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that had been ongoing since 2022.

This activity was uncovered as a result of a joint investigation by the Security and Information Service, Military Intelligence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Information, and the National Cyber and Information Security Agency.

The Czech Republic condemned this malicious cyber campaign and noted that such behavior “undermines trust in the PRC and contradicts its public declarations.”