Cars in Germany were vandalized in December in an activity attributed to “radical climate activists” who blocked exhausts and hung Green Party posters. It has now been revealed that these are not climate activists but agents of Moscow, as part of its hybrid war against countries in the West. The campaign includes slander against left-wing parties, in order to strengthen pro-Russian positions.
In December, there were hundreds of sabotages and vandalism of cars across the country. The conservative right of the political map celebrated the affair and pointed an accusing finger at “radical climate activists”: these “activists” sealed the exhausts of cars and attached posters of Green Party leaders to cars, along with the inscription “Become Green.”
Russia’s hybrid war
Now there is a twist in the plot: yesterday it was revealed that the vandalism is part of the hybrid war that Russia has declared on the European Union countries. This is a Russian campaign designed to blacken the leaders and activists of the left, and to arouse the anger of the citizens against them. The Russian gain is clear: resentment of the left and the Green Party strengthens the German right, which encourages pro-Russian views.
Recruiting locals for sabotage and espionage
Two suspects in the mass sabotage who were arrested by the authorities (two others who were identified had already fled Germany) made it clear that they were acting in accordance with the instructions they received from a Russian-speaking person. This is part of a process that has begun since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: instead of activating its agents, which has become more problematic in light of the sanctions imposed on Russia and the expulsion of some of its citizens, Russia’s secret services have launched a large-scale operation to recruit locals (most of whom have a Russian past). These are amateur criminals with a pro-Russian tendency, whom Russia wants to carry out sabotage and espionage plans.
The german Shin Bet’s warning
The German Shin Bet warned in November of the Russians’ hybrid war against Germany. The heads of the intelligence agency said that Russia “wants to undermine German society, and to sow doubt and fear in it.” They have been particularly wary of Russian disinformation campaigns ahead of the federal elections at the end of the month.
According to the suspects, a Russian citizen contacted them on the Viber network and offered them to sabotage the cars. The fee set is €100 for each car. The suspects admitted to investigators that they had already earned thousands of euros for their activities, and that part of the agreement included a promise to cover all their expenses in case they were caught.
On December 11, one of the four nights in which car vandalism reached its peak, Berlin police stopped an Opel van with a license plate of the city of Ulm. The police examined the three young passengers (17, 18, 20) who were in the car. They held identity cards from Serbia, Bosnia and Germany. The policemen found only construction materials in the car and released them on their way.
In the morning, the Berlin police received 43 complaints from car owners who could not start the car. In a search of the apartments of the three passengers in the area, the investigators found, in addition to phones and laptops, many dozens of cans with foam for construction – a hardening material used to clog the exhausts.
Foreign minister Baerbock’s response
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “It has long been clear that the Kremlin has been using various methods to destabilize democracies in the West and trust in traditional parties. Anyone who opposes the war in Ukraine is in the line of fire. We, in Germany and the European Union, are committed to continuing to defend our countries from the Kremlin’s hybrid war. We will continue to fight to expose and punish the people responsible for it.”
