Säpo Thwarts Russian SVR Operation Targeting Swedish Decision-Making, Discrediting NATO and EU

Russian intelligence officers are said to have recruited an agent in a foreign diplomatic mission in Sweden. Now the Swedish intelligence service reveals details of a Moscow-led operation. Swedish security service Säpo says it has successfully countered a Russian intelligence operation. The Russians aimed, among other things, to damage the reputation of the NATO country. The operation was allegedly controlled by Moscow's foreign intelligence service SWR. Three people, who would have acted under diplomatic immunity, are said to have been involved. The information gathering focused particularly on "information about Sweden's political positions and its activities in the context of NATO and the EU," as stated. Also of interest were Sweden's support for Ukraine, which is attacked by Russia, as well as the country's military capabilities. Säpo took measures to protect "important Swedish interests and to counter further attempts at influence." Swedish authorities also released two photos that are said to show Russian intelligence officers at a meeting in a restaurant and on the street. Political positions and military capabilities Säpo collected information about the operation over an extended period, it continued. Russian intelligence officers had also recruited an agent of a foreign diplomatic mission in Sweden. The two intelligence officers were reportedly expelled from the country by Swedish media reports, and the agent also left Sweden accordingly. That Russia is also acting aggressively in Sweden is known, said Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer to the news agency TT. There is no connection with the upcoming elections in autumn according to current information; the operation is part of a broader pattern.

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Photo via Wikimedia Commons Sweden says it stopped Russian operation to discredit country and EU. But no one will be prosecuted Sweden says it caught and stopped a Russian spy operation. Säpo Security Service has exposed the intelligence operation aimed at discrediting the country, Sweden Herald The operation is one strand of Russia's hybrid campaign against Europe. Since the full-scale war in Ukraine, Russia has run espionage, sabotage, and influence operations across European states, from undersea cable damage in the Baltic to disinformation. The Swedish case is one such effort, aimed at undermining Swedish decision-making and discrediting Sweden and the EU. The agent worked from a diplomatic mission For the operation, Russian intelligence recruited its source inside a foreign embassy. The agent, recruited at a foreign diplomatic mission in Sweden, gathered information on the decision-making processes of Sweden's central government bodies and the kingdom's relations with other countries. The goal was influence, not just information. The operation was meant to give Russian intelligence the ability to influence contentious issues, undermine Swedish decision-making, and discredit Sweden and the EU. It is the classic shape of a Russian influence operation: acquire inside knowledge of how a target state decides, then use it to steer or discredit those decisions. Säpo watched it for a long time The service said it tracked the operation before shutting it down. Säpo long monitored and documented the operation, recording meetings at which the agent passed information to two officers of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). It knew the tasks the agent was given and the questions he put to his handlers, Christoffer Wedelin, a deputy operations chief, said. Säpo said it acted to contain the damage. > _"Our assessment is that we have prevented the Russian intelligence operation. They have not succeeded in their mission,"_ Wedelin said. No one can be prosecuted The case ends without arrests. The agent and the two Russian officers have left Sweden, and because all three hold diplomatic immunity, they cannot be arrested or prosecuted. Read also Local residents hang “thousand thanks” banner as Ukrainian firefighters help stop wildfire from reaching their French village Ukraine’s new AI platform trains weapons on five million frames of drone footage. 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Allow ads in Euromaidan Press News Feed Local residents hang “thousand thanks” banner as Ukrainian firefighters help stop wildfire from reaching their French village 11/08/2026 Russia’s playbook for taking Ukrainian cities needs more troops than Russia has 11/08/2026 Ukraine’s new AI platform trains weapons on five million frames of drone footage. Partner countries can use it too 11/08/2026 Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1629: Russia races to swamp Ukraine’s air defenses as July becomes deadliest month for civilians since 2022 11/08/2026 Sweden says it stopped Russian operation to discredit country and EU. But no one will be prosecuted 10/08/2026 Support Ukrainian frontline units with Euromaidan Press Join the Euromaidan Press fundraiser Related Posts !Aeroflot Airbus A330 at Narita Airport, illustrating the airline’s reported role as cover for Russian industrial espionage in Japan. 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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. 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. 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.

Sweden Shuts Down Russian Spy Operation Targeting EU and NATO Interests Swedish Security Service Disrupts Russian Espionage Activities Background of the Russian Spy Operation STOCKHOLM, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Sweden's security service said on Monday it had shut down a Russian spying operation that had tried to influence decision-making there and discredit the Nordic country as well as its EU and NATO allies. Details of the Espionage Scheme Involvement of Russian Intelligence and Diplomats The operation had been planned and directed by Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service and involved three people working under the cover of diplomatic immunity, Sweden's SAPO service said in a statement. Swedish Security Service's Response "This is consistent with the threat we see Russia posing," a SAPO spokesperson told Reuters. Russian Embassy's Reaction The Russian embassy in Stockholm did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters via phone and email. Monitoring and Disruption of the Operation "We have been able to monitor what happened at these meetings between the individuals involved, what was said and what assignments were given," the SAPO spokesperson said. "They are no longer in Sweden and we have been able to break up this operation," he added. Further Information Withheld The spokesperson declined to give any further information about the operation or the actions taken by the security service. Reporting Credits (Reporting by Simon Johnson in Stockholm and Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

The Swedish Security Service has exposed and halted a Russian intelligence operation aimed at influencing decision-making in Sweden and discrediting the country, the EU, and NATO. reported Swedish intelligence on the official website. According to the security service, the operation was planned and coordinated over a long period by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service. The Russian side gathered information on Sweden's decision-making process to use it to influence polarizing public issues. An "agent" working at a foreign diplomatic mission in Sweden was involved in the operation. Swedish intelligence did not specify which mission was involved. The agent was tasked with gathering information intended to help Russian intelligence influence decisions and discredit them. The Swedish security service noted that Russian intelligence activities are particularly interested in: → Sweden's political positions, → her work at NATO and the EU → support for Ukraine → Sweden's military capabilities. Moscow is waging a struggle for Western support of Ukraine, via espionage ...and influence operations. Russia attempts to influence the decisions of Western countries that support Ukraine. By gathering information and using agents, the Russian Federation seeks to shape an agenda that serves its own interests. "Russian intelligence and security services continue to prioritize traditional intelligence work through the recruitment of individuals as agents," stated Kristoffer Wedelin of the Swedish Security Service. He added that the security service was able to track the agent's activities in detail, particularly his meetings and their content. - In 2024, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden abandoned its long-standing policy of military non-alignment and joined NATOThe Ukrainian Armed Forces have successfully repelled Russian attacks near the settlements of Bilohorivka, Verkhniokamianske, and Spirne. - Swedish intelligence named ...Russia, China, and Iran as the primary intelligence threats to their country.

Sweden says it disrupted a Russian intelligence operation AI generated STOCKHOLM – The Swedish Security Service (Sapo) said on Aug 10 it had thwarted a Russian intelligence operation aimed at discrediting Sweden which involved an “agent” working in a foreign diplomatic mission in the country. 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 Sapo, the “intelligence operation has been planned and directed by the Russian foreign intelligence service, SVR, for some time”. Christoffer Wedelin, Sapo’s deputy head of operations, told AFP that the operation had been carried out by Russian intelligence agents operating under “diplomatic immunity”, who in turn had recruited another “agent” working at a different country’s diplomatic mission. Sapo did not identify the diplomatic mission where the agent allegedly involved worked. “In meetings with the agent, the Russian intelligence officers... tasked the agent with obtaining information in various ways,” Wedelin said. According to Wedelin, “the objectives have been to create division” within Sweden, as well as among EU and NATO allies. Wedelin said the information concerned Swedish decision-making, but declined to give a more specific account of what information had been gathered or how long the operation had been going on. “Our assessment is that we have disrupted and prevented the activity,” Wedelin said, adding that both the Russian intelligence agents and the other agent were no longer in Sweden. Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said that the government took the reports “seriously”. “This is part of a pattern where Russia, and other state actors, act offensively to further their interests in Sweden,” Strommer told reporters. In 2024, Sweden ended two centuries of military non-alignment and joined NATO, spurred into the alliance by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Sapo has repeatedly pointed to Russia, along with China and Iran, as the main intelligence threats to the country. AFP

Sweden's security service has disrupted a Russian influence and espionage operation, directed by Moscow's SVR and run by three people under diplomatic immunity, according to Reuters on August 10. The operation sought to influence decision-making in Sweden and discredit the Nordic country, along with its EU and NATO allies, Reuters reported. The effort had been planned and directed by Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, the Swedish Security Service (SAPO) noted in a statement. A SAPO spokesperson told Reuters that investigators had monitored the network closely before shutting it down. "We have been able to monitor what happened at these meetings between the individuals involved, what was said and what assignments were given," the spokesperson explained. "They are no longer in Sweden, and we have been able to break up this operation," he added. The case fits a pattern SAPO has repeatedly flagged. "This is consistent with the threat we see Russia posing," the spokesperson told Reuters. The agency declined to provide further details about the operation or the measures it had taken against those involved. The Russian embassy in Stockholm did not immediately respond to a request for comment relayed by Reuters via phone and email. The use of diplomatic cover to place intelligence officers across Europe has drawn intensifying scrutiny. A recent analysis found that at least 21 of 117 Russian diplomatic personnel in Austria were linked to Moscow's intelligence and security services. At the Russian embassy in Vienna alone, roughly one in six listed diplomats showed potential ties to the special services.

A diplomatic mission became the gateway for a covert campaign, but Swedish authorities say surveillance stopped Moscow’s plans before they succeeded. This is reported bySweden Herald. Sweden’s Security Service, Säpo, announced that it had uncovered a Russian intelligence operation aimed at interfering in the country’s decision-making processes and undermining its reputation. According to the Swedish security service, Russian intelligence recruited an agent working at a foreign diplomatic mission. He was tasked with gathering information about the work of Sweden’s central government authorities, the mechanisms for making state decisions, and the kingdom’s international contacts. Säpo believes that the information obtained could have been used to influence sensitive and controversial issues in Swedish society. One of the operation’s objectives was said to be weakening Sweden’s decision-making process, as well as discrediting the country and the European Union. Christopher Wedelin, Deputy Head of Operations at Säpo, said that the Swedish Security Service had been monitoring Russian intelligence activity and documenting its contacts for an extended period. As part of the operation, the recruited agent held meetings with two intelligence officers from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service and passed the collected information to them. The Swedish security service determined what tasks the agent carried out and established the content of the questions he addressed to his handlers. Säpo stressed that it had taken measures to minimize the consequences of this espionage activity. We prevented a Russian intelligence operation. They did not succeed in their mission. – Christopher Wedelin The agent and the two Russian intelligence officers have already left Sweden. Säpo explained that diplomatic immunity prevented the three individuals from being detained or prosecuted. The exposure of the operation demonstrated Russian intelligence’s attempts to use diplomatic structures to gather sensitive information and influence political processes in European countries. Read also:

Information agency «Ukrainian National News» Subject in the field of online media; media identifier - R40-05926 This resource is intended for persons who have reached the age of 21. All rights reserved. © 2007 — 2026 Kyiv•UNN August 10 2026, 04:44 PM•2356views The Swedish Security Service detected and stopped a Russian intelligence operation that, through an agent at a foreign diplomatic mission, was gathering information to influence decision-making. The aim was to discredit Sweden, the EU and NATO. The Swedish Security Service (SAPO) uncovered and took action against a Russian intelligence operation aimed at influencing decision-making in Sweden, as well as discrediting Sweden, the EU and NATO. The Russian operation was carried out, among other things, through an agent of one of the foreign diplomatic missions in Sweden. This wasreportedby the press service of SAPO, writesUNN. The Russian intelligence operation involved, among other things, obtaining information about the decision-making process in Sweden so that moscow could subsequently influence contentious issues. One of the aims of the operation was to gather information about the decision-making process in Sweden so that Russian intelligence services could conduct influence operations concerning contentious issues, with the aim of undermining the decision-making process and discrediting Sweden, NATO and the EU During its intelligence work, the Security Police was able to determine exactly how the Russian intelligence operation was conducted. According to SAPO, the operation "had been planned and directed by Russia’s foreign intelligence service for some time already". The statement did not specify which diplomatic mission employed the agent who is alleged to have been involved in the case. The work with the foreign agent continued for an extended period and was carried out using covert methods. In particular, the agent was assigned to collect information so that the Russian intelligence service could influence and malign Sweden’s decision-making process. The Swedish Security Service was able to closely track how the meetings took place and what was discussed at them Former head of Finland's intelligence service charged in case of countering Russian espionage01.08.26, 17:08 • 7064 views Olga Rozgon

Stockholm – Swedish intelligence services announced the disruption of an operation linked to Russian intelligence within the country. Consequently, this development highlights Stockholm’s heightened security vigilance and proactive posture against foreign intelligence activities targeting key national interests. Furthermore, Swedish security officials confirmed that the operation was monitored closely before being successfully foiled as part of broader efforts to detect and counter unlawful influence and espionage. As a result, Sweden has intensified preemptive security measures across its northern European operational environment amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and strained regional relations. Security Vigilance and European Intelligence Cooperation On the other hand, Swedish authorities are prioritizing the defense of government institutions, critical infrastructure, and strategic sectors against foreign recruitment and sensitive data collection. Specifically, security agencies are focused on mitigating risks of operational compromise and safeguarding national assets against external influence. Additionally, Sweden is expanding intelligence-sharing mechanisms and security coordination with European partners to monitor cross-border espionage networks. Consequently, robust counter-intelligence frameworks and inter-agency cooperation remain central to Stockholm’s strategy for maintaining national security and regional stability. Finally, the disruption of this intelligence operation underscores the complex security landscape facing Sweden and its Nordic neighbors. Ultimately, continuous risk assessments and threat monitoring will remain decisive in shaping Sweden’s long-term defense and counter-espionage capabilities.