US newspaper accuses Austria of being Russia's major intelligence center in Europe

The Wall Street Journal quoted Austrian intelligence sources on June 29 as saying that over the past two years, the number of Russian government employees in Austria has increased to more than 500 people, a significant portion of whom are intelligence agents.

The WSJ notes that European and US intelligence believe Vienna is now a base for Russian covert operations. (Source: Getty)

According to the newspaper, the Austrian capital has become a major Russian intelligence hub in Europe, where Moscow agents are planning and conducting special operations against the West.

The article notes that European and US intelligence assess Vienna as a base for covert Russian operations, including funding and logistical support for assassinations, sabotage and recruitment of spies across Europe, as well as industrial espionage and influence operations.

A spokesman for Austria's Interior Ministry said intelligence agencies were aware that the country had become a target of Russian intelligence operations. Austria's special services were trying to counter the threats within the framework of existing laws.

Representatives of Russian special services based in Vienna are suspected of helping recruit and finance operations to track Western arms supplies from Poland to Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal also claimed that the operation to assassinate Russian Mi-8 military helicopter pilot Maksim Kuzminov, who handed over a Russian helicopter to Ukrainian intelligence and then stayed in Spain, was prepared in Vienna.

Russia is said to be expanding its spy network by recruiting civilians, criminals, hackers and private investigators to attack and monitor critical infrastructure, as well as other activities across Europe.

According to Austrian intelligence, Russia also sends large amounts of cash to neighboring countries by land, which are then transferred across Europe, often in the form of diplomatic letters that cannot be checked by police.

Currently, European Union (EU) countries are considering a Czech proposal to ban Russian diplomats from leaving their country to work.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-my-to-ao-la-trung-tam-tinh-bao-lon-cua-nga-o-chau-au-276915.html