Western Europe—Intelligence officials have raised alarms over allegations that Russia is buying land and buildings near sensitive military and civilian installations across Western Europe, potentially converting them into covert operational bases. Sources warn these properties could be used for coordinated sabotage, drone attacks, or surveillance missions in future crises.
According to current and former officials from three European intelligence agencies, Russian units have exploited weak legal frameworks to acquire properties in at least a dozen European countries. The properties range from summer houses, holiday cabins, warehouses, abandoned schools, urban apartments, to entire islands. Some locations may already be stocked with explosives, drones, and other equipment ready for activation in emergencies.
Post-Ukraine Invasion Concerns
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, reports of Russia-linked sabotage in Europe—including arson, parcel bombs, and attempts to derail trains—have increased. Analysts suggest these incidents may serve as trial runs for larger operations.
Rather than direct military attacks, Moscow appears to be employing “grey zone” tactics to test NATO’s resolve, potentially targeting transport, energy, and communication infrastructure while avoiding direct attribution and diplomatic backlash.
UK in Focus
MI6 Chief Blaise Metreuil recently warned that the UK now operates in a “reality between peace and war”, with Russia employing strategies just below wartime levels. Investigations have focused on suspicious property transactions near MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall, the US Embassy in Nine Elms, Scotland’s Faslane Trident submarine base, and undersea cable landing sites in Shetland.
Finland and Nordic Alerts
In Finland, Russian-linked company Airstone Helmi acquired 17 properties in the Archipelago Sea, including the Sakkiluoto island, where police discovered a helipad, jetty, surveillance cameras, and advanced communication equipment in 2018. This prompted restrictions on property purchases by Russian and Belarusian citizens. Similar concerns have emerged in Norway, Sweden, and the Baltic states, with properties near military bases and radar stations raising alarms.
Swiss and Broader European Concerns
Switzerland has also noted purchases near sensitive sites, including around the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva. Analysts note that China is reportedly using a similar strategy but focused on long-term surveillance of fiber-optic routes, data centers, and communication infrastructure rather than immediate sabotage.
Legal Gaps Across Europe
A Europe-wide ban on property sales to Russian citizens failed last year due to opposition from some countries citing economic concerns, leaving a patchwork of laws and making coordinated resistance difficult.
A security official commented,
“As long as counter-intelligence efforts remain primarily national, addressing this widespread threat across Europe will remain challenging.”
Source: The Telegraph
