Russians recruit Serbians for provocations in France

In Paris, police detained three Serbian citizens suspected of committing acts of vandalism against Jewish memorials and religious buildings on the orders of Russia.

This was reported by RTS.

The attacks occurred on the night of June 1, 2025: green paint was poured over the Shoah Memorial (Murdes Justes), several synagogues, and a Jewish restaurant.

According to preliminary data, the attackers acted for a monetary reward and were not aware of the political context of their actions.

The men – two 30-year-olds and one 21-year-old – were arrested in the French region of Provence when they tried to leave the country. Two of them are currently in a pre-trial detention center, and the case against the third is under investigation.

The authorities suspect that the action could have been organized from abroad, in particular from Russia, as it has similarities to a previous incident in 2024, when images of bloody hands appeared on the walls of the Shoah Memorial. Back then, Russian intervention was also suspected.

French intelligence services have repeatedly reported attempts by the Russian Federation to influence the country’s internal affairs, in particular through disinformation campaigns aimed at stirring up tensions in society.

The authorities have condemned these acts of vandalism as a manifestation of anti-Semitism and a possible part of a broader destabilization operation. The investigation is ongoing.

French investigators have filed suspicions of intentional damage to historical monuments and places of worship motivated by hatred, as well as acting in the interests of a foreign state.

These articles provide for up to 20 years in prison. The lawyers of the suspects claim that their clients did not realize the significance of the objects that were sprayed with paint and see a political component in the charges.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that in France, police detained a Russian chef who worked for Russian special services and prepared provocations during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

He was detained on July 21, 2024, in his Paris apartment on Rue Saint-Denis. As it turned out later, he was drunkenly telling unknown people about his FSB assignment while staying at a hotel in Bulgaria.