Serbia as a Hub for Russian Hybrid Operations in Europe: Five Documented Cases

Abstract

Today, Serbia functions as an active link in Russia’s hybrid infrastructure in Europe. It provides territory, logistics, and state actors for coordinated operations influenced by the Kremlin, including paramilitary training for electoral destabilization, false-flag operations aimed at fomenting interethnic division in the West, and direct surveillance of European Union officials. This role is confirmed by five documented cases: (1) In Moldova, young recruits trained in Serbia and Bosnia took part in attempts to sabotage pro-EU elections and a referendum; (2) In France, under GRU organization, more than 250 Stars of David, a symbol of Israel, were painted in a false-flag operation; (3) Also in France, Serbian nationals were arrested for antisemitic vandalism designed as false-flag acts to blame Muslims; (4) In Brussels, a Serbian trade union representative with ties to the FSB infiltrated EU institutions; and (5) In Kosovo, a Serbian government official was exposed as part of BIA-coordinated wiretapping operations against EU officials.

This document presents evidence that Serbia is not merely a nominal ally of Russia, but an active proxy structure that employs intelligence, organized crime, and propaganda tools to project Kremlin influence into the heart of Europe. Failure to disrupt these networks constitutes a direct threat to transnational security and demands a coordinated strategic response from European institutions and transatlantic partners.