Must says Sweden is not the main target for hybrid attacks

Sweden is not currently Russia’s main target for hybrid attacks, according to the head of the country’s Military Intelligence and Security Service, Must. Thomas Nilsson gave the assessment after Must and the Swedish Security Service briefed the National Security Council on Russia’s hybrid warfare against Europe.

Nilsson said Must does not see an immediate Russian military threat to Sweden. The agency also does not consider Sweden a priority target for Russian sabotage. Germany, Poland and the Baltic states appear to be the more likely focus, he said.

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We do not perceive Sweden as a primary target.

But the assessment carries a warning. Russia has increased its ability to carry out sophisticated sabotage, Nilsson said, and could quickly change its intentions, identify targets and attack Sweden. “One has to keep that in mind all the time,” he told Dagens Nyheter.

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One could quite quickly change one’s intention, start finding targets and attack Sweden as well. One has to keep that in mind all the time.

Sweden continues to face a high threat to its military support for Ukraine. Must has kept that assessment at four on a five-point scale. Sweden has donated Jas Gripen aircraft, Strv 122 tanks and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, with the equipment transported under security protection.

The briefing followed Germany’s accusation that Russia was responsible for a drone incident in Leipzig, which prompted condemnation in several European capitals. Three drones carrying explosives were found at or near Leipzig airport on the night of Aug. 4-5. The airport serves civilian traffic, NATO and shipments to Ukraine.

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One wants to divide us in the West and reduce our appetite for supporting Ukraine, frighten us and sow doubt among the civilian population so that we start thinking that perhaps supporting Ukraine is not worth the price.

Nilsson said Russia had accelerated its hybrid campaign against Europe. He said Moscow wanted to divide Western countries, reduce public willingness to support Ukraine and create doubts among civilians about whether that support was worth the cost. He also linked the increased pressure to Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia, which he said damage the Kremlin’s war capacity and affect export revenues from the country’s oil and gas industries.

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Ukraine has managed to bring the war closer to the Russian population. Ukraine’s long-range strikes also affect export revenues from the oil and gas industry, which is so important to Russia.