Against the backdrop of a stalemate on the front in Ukraine and growing pressure on the Russian economy, the Kremlin, according to Western intelligence, has ordered an expansion of sabotage and “hybrid” operations in Europe. The goal is to undermine support for Kyiv in the coming months. One of the...
Why Fico’s Slovakia is slowing Euro-Atlantic unity
After Robert Fico became prime minister for the fourth time in 2023, Slovakia reversed its foreign policy and shifted markedly toward closer ties with Russia. His government is now one of the main opponents of the EU’s hard line on the Kremlin. That shows up in attempts to block or...
UK imposes a new package of sanctions against Russia
The UK Foreign Office announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on 1 October. It covers 23 individuals and entities and eight vessels. According to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the package is aimed at restricting funding for the war, putting pressure on networks that London describes as...
The Kremlin tests NATO response by attacking border checkpoints in Western Ukraine
On the night of 9 September 2026, the silence on the Ukrainian Moldovan border was torn apart by the roar of several Russian Geran-type drones attacking the Starokozache international checkpoint in Odesa region. The raid killed two civilians and wounded three others. Border terminals were destroyed, and a passenger bus,...
Pro-Russian media in Slovakia and the Czech Republic disguise Kremlin narratives as internal EU criticism
Against the backdrop of a renewed EU debate on extending anti-Russian sanctions, some Slovak and Czech pro-Russian media outlets have begun promoting more aggressively the idea that further support for Ukraine is pointless and should be reduced. Zem&Vek and Pravý Prostor stood out in particular. The Slovak outlet framed the...
How Russia’s education system abroad builds loyalty to the Kremlin and hostility toward the West
Education in Russia has never been limited to instruction. It has always performed an ideological and upbringing function as well. School curricula, textbook content, “patriotic education,” and military training are shaped by state priorities set by the Kremlin. Their purpose is to form a generation loyal to Russian government policy...
The Kremlin’s Disposable Agents in Europe
Russia’s hybrid aggression against Europe has intensified markedly in 2026, and one of its most dangerous strands is the expansion of sabotage. In recent months, European intelligence services have increasingly warned of Russian sabotage, the recruitment of operatives, and preparations for attacks on sites linked to support for Ukraine. The...