▲ Roberta Kaunas, Lithuanian Defense Minister
Tensions are rising as signs of sabotage targeting NATO member states are successively detected across Europe.
European security authorities view these acts of sabotage as deliberate threats by Russia aimed at testing Europe's defense readiness and shaking the coalition supporting Ukraine.
Synthesizing major foreign media reports on the 15th (local time), infrastructure attacks and military provocations suspected to be sabotage occurred simultaneously across the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Denmark earlier this week.
On this day, pipe-like obstacles were found on railway tracks in about 30 locations across the central and northern regions of the Netherlands.
Consequently, train operations were completely suspended, paralyzing railway traffic.
ProRail, the railway operator, explained that "the objects were intentionally placed by someone, constituting sabotage against the railway infrastructure," adding that the perpetrators and motives have not yet been identified.
The Dutch intelligence agency (AVID), police, and prosecution have launched an investigation.
Shortly after midnight on the 15th, an unidentified drone violated the airspace of Lithuania bordering the Baltic Sea, prompting the scramble of an Italian fighter jet belonging to NATO.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that it is "highly likely that this drone came from Russia."
The drone, which entered Lithuanian airspace via Belarus—an ally of Russia—was shot down by a NATO fighter jet near Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Roberta Kaunas stated that the downed drone was carrying explosive devices.
He conveyed that during the search of the site, "explosive devices were found and subsequently neutralized by explosive ordnance disposal specialists."
In Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—NATO member states sharing borders with Russia—drone intrusion incidents have occurred continuously since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On the 14th in the Baltic Sea, a Russian warship fired two flare signals toward a Danish helicopter.
According to the Danish military, a Danish Air Force helicopter was carrying out a routine photography mission targeting a Russian frigate in international waters when it came under flare attack, with one of the two fired flares passing close to the aircraft.
Immediately following the incident, Danish authorities summoned Vladimir Barbin, the Russian ambassador to Denmark, to lodge a protest, but the Russian side shifted the blame for the incident onto Denmark.
Ambassador Barbin released a position stating, "This is not the first time that a Danish Air Force helicopter has engaged in dangerous maneuvers near a Russian warship in international waters outside territorial seas."
Previously, on the 13th, a Russian drone attacked Ukrainian railway facilities in the Volyn region near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border in Ukraine, close to Poland. The impact heavily damaged the locomotive of a passenger train traveling from Kyiv to Warsaw.
In particular, this airstrike took place shortly after a train carrying former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, and several EU diplomatic officials—all of whom strongly supported Ukraine during their terms—departed from Yahodyn Station in western Ukraine and crossed the Polish border.
Earlier this month, power grid attacks suspected of aiming for a massive blackout occurred in Germany for two consecutive days.
Authorities are investigating, suspecting sabotage by left-wing extremist groups or foreign intelligence agencies.
European security authorities suspect that many of the sabotage incidents occurring in NATO member states were orchestrated by Russian intelligence agencies.
Experts believe that Russia is carrying out complex operations in Europe to curb support for Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, and to test NATO's willingness to respond.
Especially ahead of elections in major European countries such as France, amidst the rise of pro-Russian far-right political factions, these actions are suspected to be attempts to heighten public fatigue over the war in Ukraine and weaken public support for assistance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pointed to Russia as the mastermind immediately after the suspected sabotage incidents occurred successively in Denmark and Lithuania.
President von der Leyen asserted, "These incidents are not isolated occurrences," adding, "They are part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression and provocation aimed at testing our readiness and resolve."
She added, "Russia will only see our resolve grow stronger," and "We are cooperating with NATO to strengthen our joint deterrence and defense capabilities, and we are increasing the pressure on Russia."
Some experts suspect that the motives behind Russia's repeated provocations stem from the fact that Ukraine's long-range strikes leave Russia with no safe rear areas.
The explanation is that striking Europe, which continuously provides military support to Ukraine and effectively serves as its rear, is gaining traction within Russia as an alternative to maintain balance in a prolonged war.
However, Russia has strongly and repeatedly denied any involvement in the signs of sabotage concentrated in Europe, particularly among NATO allies.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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