The Financial Times: Russia Recruits "Amateur Spies" in Europe, Wagner Network Becomes a Key Channel
According to several Western intelligence officials, individuals who previously worked for the Russian mercenary group Wagner Group in recruitment and propaganda have now become an important channel for the Kremlin's disruptive activities in Europe.
The Financial Times reported that after Wagner Group's failed coup against Russian military leaders in June 2023, it was reorganized. Its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in an air crash in August of the same year. Afterward, the organization's position became unclear. However, Western officials stated that Wagner-related networks did not disappear but were given new tasks.
These individuals previously mainly recruited Russian youth to fight in Ukraine, but now they have shifted to recruiting people with poor economic conditions in Europe, planning violent or disruptive actions within NATO member states.
A Western intelligence official said that the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) "is using available resources at hand," including the Wagner mercenary network.
It is reported that the Russian military intelligence agency and the Federal Security Service (FSB) are actively seeking "exploitable and disposable" individuals in Europe to create chaos. In the past two years, Russia has planned or carried out destructive actions in various parts of Europe, aiming to weaken Western countries' support for Ukraine and exacerbate social instability.
A senior European intelligence official told The Financial Times that for the Russian military intelligence agency, the Wagner network is "an efficient and low-cost tool."
The report pointed out that Wagner personnel have directed agents to carry out various actions, including setting fire to vehicles of political figures, burning warehouses storing aid supplies for Ukraine, and even impersonating supporters of extremist groups to spread propaganda materials.
The recruited individuals are mostly motivated by money, many of whom are marginalized members of society, lacking direction or stable income sources. A European official said that Wagner has established a relatively mature system for propaganda and recruitment, capable of communicating in languages familiar to the target population.
Another official said that the Wagner network is skilled in using Telegram channels for communication, "they clearly know who their audience is."
European intelligence and security agencies have been closely watching the role of the Wagner network in Russia's disruptive actions against Europe. For example, social media accounts operated by Wagner attempted to recruit British people in late 2023.
Dylan Earl, 21, was recruited through social media. In March 2024, he lured four other young people to set fire to a warehouse in east London. Earl has already been sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Judge Chima-Grabbe stated during the sentencing: "The invisible hand of the Internet played a role. Anonymous recruiters used encrypted online chat rooms to target young people in the UK who were willing to be radicalized and betray their country for seemingly easy pay."
However, the report also pointed out that Russian intelligence agencies recruiting "amateur spies" through proxy networks like Wagner have limited professional capabilities and confidentiality levels. So far, the number of truly successful destructive actions is far less than those that were thwarted or failed.
Image: According to Western intelligence officials, individuals who once worked for the Russian mercenary organization "Wagner Group" in recruitment and propaganda have now become the main channel for the Kremlin's destructive attacks in Europe. (Reuters photo)
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857281508192267/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.