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

The Wall Street Journal quoted Austrian intelligence sources as saying on June 29 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 agencies 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's agents are planning and conducting special operations against the West.

The article notes that European and US intelligence agencies believe Vienna is now a base for Russian covert 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 the Austrian Interior Ministry said intelligence agencies were aware that the country had become the target of Russian intelligence operations. Austrian 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 reportedly expanding its spy network by recruiting civilians, criminals, hackers and private investigators to attack and monitor critical infrastructure and other operations across Europe.

According to Austrian intelligence, Russia also sends large amounts of cash to neighboring countries by land. The money is 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