The disappearance of the forests in the Romanian Carpathians and the failure of European environmental policy
In August 2024, a drone operated by environmental activists flew over the Ceahlău mountain range in the Romanian Carpathians. The footage revealed newly built logging roads, clear-cut slopes, and wide corridors cutting through a forest area that is officially designated as a protected Natura 2000 site on European maps. What…
Russia is using Cossack groups in Europe for espionage and hybrid influence operations
Russia is increasingly utilizing Cossack associations in Europe and beyond as instruments for espionage and the conduct of hybrid influence operations. Their primary threat lies in their capacity to operate autonomously as legalized paramilitary cells under the direction of Russian special services. These structures are capable of rapid mobilization and,…
Spanish authorities and corruption within their inner circle
In the spring of 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—a politician who had come to power on a platform of fighting corruption and restoring trust in state institutions following numerous scandals during the People’s Party era—publicly announced a five-day pause to reflect on his future political career. This was prompted…
Russia is behind the fuelling of inter-ethnic tensions in the UK
In recent years, the United Kingdom has become a priority target for Russian hybrid attacks and acts of sabotage. The arson attacks on properties belonging to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May 2025 served as striking proof of this and were carried out by the Russian Federation under a…
Ireland continues to supply alumina to Russia’s defence industry
For years, the Irish government has been lobbying behind the scenes in Brussels to prevent restrictions being imposed on supplies of alumina produced by the Aughinish Alumina plant, the ultimate beneficiary of which is the sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and a series of corporate and legal manoeuvres carried out…