Today at 01:04
NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General James Appathurai said in a speech in the European Parliament that sabotage activities recorded in the territory of the Alliance in recent years include threats to organize assassinations of industry leaders, including the CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall Armin Papperger.
Appathurai confirmed that the sabotage campaign has included arson attacks, train derailments, attacks on politicians’ property, and threats to the lives of leading industrialists, Reuters reports
According to him, such actions are part of Russia’s broader strategy of influence aimed at destabilizing NATO countries.
“Russia can be deterred if red lines are identified and effectively communicated,” Appathurai said, recalling the case when Joe Biden stopped sabotage in 2021 by addressing Vladimir Putin directly.
Rheinmetall is a key supplier of 155-mm artillery shells, which are actively used in the war in Ukraine. Amid the threats, in July 2023, the United States and Germany jointly prevented an assassination attempt on Armin Papperger, after which he was provided with the highest level of security.
In April, left-wing extremists from the RAF claimed responsibility for setting fire to Papperger’s garden house, accusing him of “profiteering from the war.” Incidents of this magnitude confirm that Russia’s sabotage campaign is comprehensive and continues to gain momentum.
NATO is recording a record level of sabotage and calls for more decisive measures to respond to such incidents, especially in the Baltic Sea, where there has been increased activity recently.
