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29 August 2024

Hot Summer: Russia and Europe

Edward Lucas

Appease Russia or confront it, spies and saboteurs will target you regardless. Germans worry that sending Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine would lead to a dangerous confrontation. But as far as the Kremlin is concerned, their country is already a target.

Earlier this summer, CNN broke the story of a plan to assassinate the chief executive of the German arms giant Rheinmetall, along with other weapons industry executives. That story has gone oddly quiet. But Russian activity has continued. German prosecutors say they are investigating “the suspicion of espionage activity for sabotage purposes” following repeated drone flights over critical energy infrastructure in Schleswig-Holstein.

This story has several depressing features. The drones have been buzzing around for weeks, at least. They are thought to be launched from merchant vessels in the North Sea. The German police drones tried to follow the intruders but could not match their speeds of 90 kph (55 mph). This is not 1945, when Allied air forces flew freely over the shattered remains of the Third Reich. Germany is one of the richest countries in the world. It should do a better job of defending its airspace.

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