Russian spies are aggressively seeking Western technology as sanctions bite, officials say

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By EMMA BURROWS
Updated 11:01 PM CDT, May 29, 2026

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — Russia’s intelligence agencies have grown more aggressive in their efforts to steal Western technology and defense secrets as sanctions squeeze the country’s wartime economy, three senior European intelligence officials told The Associated Press.

Moscow’s agents are building fake companies, recruiting middlemen and deploying cyber spies and hackers who are gathering information that could also be used to attack key infrastructure, they said.

Four years of international sanctions have hampered Moscow’s ability to procure machinery, technology and research from Europe, while the grinding war in Ukraine has taxed key industries and pushed the country toward a potential financial crisis.

“They really know what they need,” and are putting “serious effort” into acquiring advanced machine tools, factory equipment, research and dual-use technology, said Christoffer Wedelin, deputy head of operations at the Swedish Security Service.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-sanctions-intelligence-economy-defense-10ea5ad20158945f18c718375b84a2f3