S9 Ep42: Russia’s Shadow War Against NATO with Florian Flade

Chris welcomes back national security journalist Florian Flade to unpack Russia’s shadow war against NATO. They examine Moscow’s escalating hybrid attacks across Europe—from sabotage and arson to drone incursions and attempted assassinations—and how Russia recruits low-level agents via Telegram and even AI-driven chatbots. Florian details arson plots, suspicious drone activity near critical infrastructure, infiltration of the German Navy, and a parcel bomb campaign stretching from Lithuania to the UK. They also explore how Russia exploits legal loopholes, overwhelms under-resourced security services, and uses these operations to map NATO’s vulnerabilities. Plus, an alleged assassination plot in Frankfurt, concerns about escalation, and why European security services may still be underprepared for what’s coming.Please share this episode using these linksAudio: https://pod.fo/e/2cbe95YouTube: https://youtu.be/1WFUmHSW3NQFollow Florian’s blog and connect on social mediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/florianflade.bsky.socialTwitter/X: https://x.com/FlorianFladeBlog: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/Florian’s reporting discussed in the episode“Cluster of New Drone Sightings in the North” by lorian Flade, Manuel Bewarder, and Benedikt Strunz: https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/drohnen-ueberfluege-102.html“Sabotage of Navy Warships” by Manuel Bewarder and Florian Flade: https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/sabotage-marine-ostsee-102.html“Russian Intelligence Service Suspected Behind Sabotage” by Manuel Bewarder, Florian Flade, and Sebastian Pittelkow: https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/russland-sabotage-106.html“The Man with Many Identities” by Florian Flade, Antonius Kempmann and Palina Milling: https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/ukraine-russland-spionage-102.html“Arrests Including for Espionage Activities and Membership in the Foreign Terrorist Organization ‘Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)’” by the Federal Attorney General’s Office: https://www.generalbundesanwalt.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2024/Pressemitteilung-vom-18-04-2024.htmlSupport Secrets and SpiesBecome a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dgFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.comConnect with us on social mediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesFollow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/fultonmatt.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.socialSecrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.Music by Andrew R. BirdSecrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.