Russia has been hiring migrants from outside the EU to commit crimes, spread fear and undermine trust in the government, the Czech intelligence service (BIS) said Thursday in its annual report for 2024.
The Czech spies said Russia uses Telegram to recruit potential agents to conduct various criminal activities, such as taking videos of military bases or logistical hubs for military aid intended for Ukraine, or committing arson attacks.
BIS noted that the actions, beyond their primary goal of gathering information or causing damage, are also intended to inflict psychological damage.
“This includes weakening the cohesion of Western societies, spreading fear and uncertainty, undermining public trust in the state’s ability to protect its citizens, and increasing pressure to scale back support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression,” the report said.
In many cases, the agents are unaware they are working for Russia, as they are hired through middlemen, according to the Czech intelligence document.
Czechia has suffered multiple attacks carried out by Russian intelligence agents over the years.
In 2021, the country expelled 18 Russian diplomats over a 2014 warehouse blast that killed two people in the southeastern town of Vrbětice, after Czech intelligence presented evidence that Russia was behind the attack.
Last month, Czechia sentenced a Colombian man responsible for a failed arson attack at a bus depot to eight years in prison. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala previously said that the attack was likely organized by Russia. BIS said it has prevented similar attacks from being carried out.
Moscow also spreads its influence through the Russian Orthodox Church in Czechia, BIS said, adding that it’s an institution fully loyal to the Kremlin.
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