Sabotage & Assassinations: Inside Russia’s Mysterious New Task Force

 

Russia's New Secret Unit- A Shadow War Against The West?

     Looks like Russia is stepping up its covert game. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Russian intelligence has quietly set up a new Special Task Force (STF), designed specifically for sabotage, assassinations, and other shadowy operations across Europe and beyond.

     This unit is reportedly headquartered in a sleek, modern intelligence complex outside Moscow and includes battle-hardened veterans from past Russian operations. Their alleged activities? Sabotaging Western companies, infiltrating businesses, and even plotting assassinations. Some of their recent targets include DHL and Rheinmetall, a major German arms manufacturer.

     Western intelligence believes this unit was formed in 2023 as a direct response to military aid being sent to Ukraine. And it’s being run by some familiar faces—General Andrei Averyanov and General Ivan Kasyanenko. These guys aren’t new to the covert ops world: Averyanov has ties to a 2014 ammunition depot explosion in the Czech Republic, while Kasyanenko is linked to the infamous 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the UK.

     I think this new STF has many in U.S. intelligence losing sleep at night, for it is a high-priority national security matter. If these reports are accurate, Russia isn't just targeting Ukraine—it’s actively working to destabilize Western nations. This could mean cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure, sabotage of supply chains, or even covert threats against key American companies.

     Historically, Russia’s intelligence playbook has always included covert operations, but this seems like a more aggressive and organized approach. The big question now is: How far will they go? And how should the U.S. and its allies respond?

     What do you think? Is this a major national security concern, or just Cold War-style fearmongering? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and an accomplished author. He writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Short Story, blending his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His work offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of espionage, inspired by the complexities and high-stakes realities of the intelligence community.