The SSD headquarters is in the “aquarium,” as the GRU military intelligence headquarters is called, on the outskirts of Moscow, all made of glass and steel. According to sources in the Wall Street Journal, Russian saboteurs had attempted to send disguised incendiary devices via DHL to European and American planes in Leipzig, Germany, and Birmingham, England.
In recent years, international tensions in Europe have raised growing concerns about security and stability issues. A recent report by the Danish Intelligence Service (DDIS) highlights potential threats from Russia, suggesting that the country could be ready to wage a full-scale war in Europe within five years. The paper focuses on interpreting the power dynamics between Russia and NATO countries, highlighting how the perception of a weakened or divided Atlantic Alliance could prompt Moscow to consider the use of military force. In a context where US support for Europe is being questioned, the situation could become a fertile ground for Regional conflicts, with significant consequences on a global scale.
ALARMING REPORT
The analysis in the report clearly shows the perception of a concrete Russian military threat, closely linked to the course of the war in Ukraine. It is important to note that, at the moment, it is unlikely that Moscow will be able to simultaneously manage the conflict in Ukraine and a possible clash with one or more NATO member states. However, once the war against Kiev reaches some stability, according to Copenhagen, the Russians will have the opportunity to free up significant military resources. This could lead to an increase in their ability to pose a direct threat to the Atlantic Alliance, leading to a situation of greater tension and uncertainty.
WARNING FROM UKRAINE
There have also been dire warnings from Ukraine. “Ukraine will not be Vladimir Putin’s last target,” warned Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the new chairman of the Alliance’s military committee, calling on European allies to double their weapons production to prepare for war. He also said history has shown that the Russian leader cannot be trusted and that NATO will “watch” him as peace talks on Ukraine get underway.
Cavo Dragone believes that member countries must do more, but also that NATO is prepared for a conflict in which it would surpass Russia’s conventional defense capabilities and its nuclear weapons stockpiles if tensions escalate.
In an interview with The Times, he said arms companies need to stop thinking about profit and move to a war mentality in which they need to focus on saving lives on the battlefield, and very quickly. Cavo Dragone is a naval officer who previously served as Italy’s Chief of Defence Staff and took over from Admiral Rob Bauer at NATO last month, and now advises Mark Rutte, NATO’s Secretary General, on military matters, including the number of military units and force structure.
NEW UNIT 007
Even if there is no direct conflict, hybrid warfare will likely continue at a high pace. The SSD, or Special Operations Department, is the top-secret Russian unit suspected of carrying out sabotage, poisonings and planned attacks in the West, according to intelligence sources who briefed the Wall Street Journal. The clandestine unit was founded in 2023 after absorbing Team 29155, which had poisoned former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England with a radioactive substance.
The new department was created to respond to clandestine operations by Ukrainian services, not only in Russia, sometimes supported by Western intelligence. The SSD headquarters is in the “aquarium,” as the GRU military intelligence headquarters is called, on the outskirts of Moscow, all made of glass and steel. According to sources in the Wall Street Journal, Russian saboteurs had attempted to send disguised incendiary devices via DHL to European and American aircraft in Leipzig, Germany, and Birmingham, England.
