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The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) said on Monday it had thwarted a Russian intelligence operation aimed at discrediting Sweden and which involved an “agent” working in a foreign diplomatic mission in Sweden.
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The counter-espionage agency said in a statement it had “gathered information on, and taken measures against, a Russian intelligence operation aiming at influencing Swedish decision-making and discrediting Sweden, NATO and the EU.”
According to Säpo, the “intelligence operation has been planned and directed by the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR for some time.”
It did not identify the diplomatic mission where the agent allegedly involved worked.
“One of the aims of the operation was to gather information on Swedish decision-making in order to enable the Russian intelligence services to conduct influence operations concerning polarising issues, with the goal to undermine Swedish decision-making and discredit Sweden, NATO and the EU,” Säpo said.
Christoffer Wedelin, Säpo’s deputy head of operations said that, upon learning of the operation, “the Swedish Security Service took action to protect vital Swedish assets and counter continued impact.”
In 2024, Sweden ended two centuries of military non-alignment and joined NATO, spurred into the alliance by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Säpo has repeatedly pointed to Russia, along with China and Iran, as the main intelligence threats to the country.
Additional sources • AFP