European Intelligence Chiefs Fear Russia's War Expanding to Continent
Reports indicate Russia is preparing targeted killings and sabotage across Europe, with Germany a main focus.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

I bllokuar në Ukrainë, Putini mund të dëshirojë ta përçajë NATO-n
Photograph: Telegrafi (embedded from source)
What this story says
- European intelligence chiefs fear Russia's war in Ukraine is expanding into the continent, potentially involving targeted killings and sabotage.
- Germany is identified as a main target for Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare activities.
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow to meet with Russian intelligence heads.
- The EU's focus on Russia's hybrid threats highlights potential for increased military tensions.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 23 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 21 of the 44 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
57/100
Hype
68/100
44 sources · methodology
European intelligence chiefs are concerned that Russia's war against Ukraine is increasingly extending into the European continent. Reports suggest Russia is preparing to carry out targeted killings and large-scale sabotage operations across Europe. Germany has been identified as a primary target for these activities.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow to meet with Russian intelligence heads. This visit occurred amid heightened concerns about Russia's hybrid warfare tactics, which include cyberattacks, sabotage, and political interference.
Disagreement on CIA Director's Moscow Visit Purpose
Telegrafi, citing an opinion piece by Clifford D. May, suggests CIA Director John Ratcliffe likely warned Russian intelligence chiefs that expanding the war would not serve Russia's interests, particularly given NATO's strengthened position. The outlet also notes that a previous visit by a CIA director in 2021 failed to deter Russia's invasion. In contrast, news-pravda.com, a right-rated outlet, frames Ratcliffe's visit as having "Moscow meanings" and implies a potential for future engagement, stating he "flew away, but promised to return."
Omissions
None of the right-rated digests mention the casualty figures for Russian and Ukrainian forces that were detailed in Telegrafi's full report. None of the centre-rated digests mention the specific casualty figures or the CIA Director's visit to Moscow.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 4 times, most recently on 6 Sept 2026, 14:00, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
9 rated outlets
- Nine left-rated reports focused on the fear of Russia's war expanding into Europe, with specific mentions of planned assassinations and sabotage. Telegrafi, in its full report, detailed casualty figures for both Russian and Ukrainian forces, citing the Center for Strategic and International Studies. This report also discussed the CIA Director's visit to Moscow and speculated on its purpose, suggesting it was to warn Russia against expanding the conflict. Other left-rated outlets like unn.ua, rbc.ua, and cascadepbs.org highlighted Germany as a main target for Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare. United24 noted Germany's claim of possessing evidence of Russia's escalated hybrid war. The Globalist and The Week framed the narrative around Putin's potential next move being against Europe and the possibility of hybrid attacks pulling Europe into the war.
Centre
8 rated outlets
- Six centre-rated reports highlighted the EU's struggle to find countermeasures against Russia's escalating hybrid attacks. RTÉ and Radio France Internationale questioned the genuine threat of Russia's alleged hybrid war on the EU and noted Denmark's intelligence warning about Russian sabotage preparations. Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija and 15min.lt reported that European intelligence chiefs fear Russia's war is moving into the continent but allies are struggling to respond. Bloomberg and GuildHall led with the warning from EU Military Chief General Sean Clancy that Russia's escalating hybrid attacks represent the EU's "most significant strategic threat."
Right
6 rated outlets
- Six right-rated reports focused on Russia preparing a wave of sabotage and assassinations in NATO countries. Korrespondent.net stated the Russian GRU actively recruits performers through Telegram. The Daily Express reported that Putin could unleash assassinations across Europe in fury at NATO, mentioning suspected Russian sabotage at German airports, government IT systems, energy infrastructure, and defence facilities. The US Sun described Germany as being in "Vlad's crosshairs" due to sabotage. Atlantic Council suggested the CIA director's visit to Moscow raised speculation about Russian plans to escalate attacks. Free Malaysia Today News noted Europe's struggle to respond to Russia's escalating shadow warfare.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover European Intelligence Chiefs Fear Russia's War Expanding to Continent?
- Of the 23 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 39% are rated left, 35% are rated centre, 26% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 44. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is European Intelligence Chiefs Fear Russia's War Expanding to Continent left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 23 rated outlets on this story, 39% are rated left, 35% are rated centre, 26% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of European Intelligence Chiefs Fear Russia's War Expanding to Continent biased?
- European Intelligence Chiefs Fear Russia's War Expanding to Continent is one event reported by 44 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered European Intelligence Chiefs Fear Russia's War Expanding to Continent?
- 44 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What are European intelligence chiefs concerned about regarding Russia's war?
- European intelligence chiefs fear that Russia's war against Ukraine is increasingly moving into the continent. They are concerned about potential targeted killings and large-scale acts of sabotage being prepared by Russia across Europe.
- Which country is identified as a main target for Russian sabotage?
- Germany has been identified as a main target for Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare activities. Suspected Russian sabotage has reportedly hit German airports, government IT systems, energy infrastructure, and defence facilities.
- What was the purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow?
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow to meet with Russian intelligence heads. While some reports suggest he may have warned Russia against expanding the conflict, others frame the visit with "Moscow meanings" and a promise to return.
- What is considered the EU's top strategic threat?
- According to the EU's top military official, General Sean Clancy, Russia's escalating hybrid attacks represent the European Union's "most significant strategic threat." These attacks include cyberattacks, sabotage, and political interference.
Read it at the source
44 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
9- Why Putin’s Next Move in his War Against Ukraine is Against Europe (opens The Globalist in a new tab)
The Globalist
- Putin is preparing a wave of assassinations and large-scale acts of sabotage in Europe (opens unn.ua in a new tab)
- Putin plans wave of sabotage and assassination attempts across NATO, reports say (opens rbc.ua in a new tab)
- European countries face Russian sabotage and shadow warfare (opens cascadepbs.org in a new tab)
cascadepbs.org — is cascadepbs.org biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Europe struggles to respond as Russia escalates shadow warfare (opens Courthouse News Service in a new tab)
Courthouse News Service — is Courthouse News Service biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia’s Hybrid War on Europe Escalated. Germany Says It Has the Evidence (opens United24 in a new tab)
- Trapped in Ukraine, Putin May Want to Break up NATO (opens Telegrafi in a new tab)
- Could Russia’s hybrid attacks pull Europe into the war? (opens The Week in a new tab)
Centre
8- Is Russia's alleged hybrid war on EU a genuine threat? (opens RTÉ in a new tab)
- Russia’s Hybrid War Is Europe’s Top Threat, EU Commander Warns (opens Bloomberg in a new tab)
- As Russia Escalates Hybrid Attacks, Europe Struggles to Find Countermeasures (opens Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija in a new tab)
- Europe struggles to respond as Russia escalates shadow warfare (opens Radio France Internationale in a new tab)
Radio France Internationale — is Radio France Internationale biased? Our profile of this outlet
- As Russia Escalates Hybrid Attacks, Europe Struggles to Find Countermeasures (opens 15min.lt in a new tab)
- Europe struggles to respond as Russia escalates shadow warfare (opens France24 in a new tab)
- What's the Real Reason for the CIA Director's Secret Visit to Moscow? (opens cedarnews.net in a new tab)
cedarnews.net — is cedarnews.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Report to Congress on Russian Hybrid Warfare in Europe (opens USNI News in a new tab)
Right
6- Russia Is Preparing a Wave of Sabotages and Assassinations in NATO Countries. (opens Korrespondent.net in a new tab)
Korrespondent.net — is Korrespondent.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Putin could unleash assassinations all over Europe in fury at NATO (opens Daily Express in a new tab)
Daily Express — is Daily Express biased? Our profile of this outlet
- How 'ticking time bomb' Germany is in Vlad's crosshairs as sabotage grips nation (opens The US Sun in a new tab)
The US Sun — is The US Sun biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Europe struggles to respond as Russia escalates shadow warfare (opens Free Malaysia Today News in a new tab)
Free Malaysia Today News — is Free Malaysia Today News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine (opens Atlantic Council in a new tab)
Atlantic Council — is Atlantic Council biased? Our profile of this outlet
- He flew away, but promised to return: the Moscow Meanings of CIA Director John Ratcliffe (opens news-pravda.com in a new tab)
news-pravda.com — is news-pravda.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
21- Guardian Europe worries about Russia's overtaking in 'hybrid warfare' (opens safir.af in a new tab)
safir.af
- EU Military Chief Warns of Serious Danger From Russian Hybrid War (opens Business AM in a new tab)
Business AM — is Business AM biased? Our profile of this outlet
- This is how the hybrid war that attacks us Europeans works (opens Ara.cat in a new tab)
- Bloomberg: Russia's Hybrid War Has Become Europe's Main Threat, Says EU Commander (opens GuildHall in a new tab)
- Russia's hybrid attacks deemed EU's top strategic threat, says military official (opens Crypto Briefing in a new tab)
Crypto Briefing — is Crypto Briefing biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia’s hybrid attacks deemed EU’s top strategic threat, says military official (opens Cryptocurrency News in a new tab)
Cryptocurrency News — is Cryptocurrency News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- EU – General Clancy: Russia's "Hybrid Warfare" Is the Greatest Strategic Threat (opens ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 in a new tab)
ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 — is ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Europe struggles to respond as Russia escalates shadow warfare (opens rtl.lu in a new tab)
Show 13 more
- Europe struggles to respond as Russia escalates shadow warfare (opens BizToc in a new tab)
- Russia Intensifies Its Covert Operations in Europe, Alerts the Soufan Center: an Assassination Attempt in Warsaw (opens Moncloa in a new tab)
- After Leipzig: Germany Moves to Dismantle Russia’s Influence Infrastructure (opens Robert Lansing Institute in a new tab)
Robert Lansing Institute
- Russian External Operations in Europe Become Increasingly Brazen (opens The Soufan Center in a new tab)
The Soufan Center — is The Soufan Center biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ratcliffe's Warning to Moscow: What Is Known a Week Later, According to Former CIA Officials? (opens Indeksonline.net in a new tab)
Indeksonline.net — is Indeksonline.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- We Know Why the CIA Chief Visited Moscow (opens Privátbankár.hu in a new tab)
Privátbankár.hu — is Privátbankár.hu biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Scott Ritter: The CIA never comes to Russia in peace - The Press United (opens ThePress United in a new tab)
ThePress United — is ThePress United biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Arnor Reveals CIA Director's Mysterious Moscow Trip — This Could Have Been the Case (opens DV in a new tab)
- World News: What's the Real Reason for the CIA's Secret Director's Visit to Moscow? (opens nafeza2world.com in a new tab)
nafeza2world.com — is nafeza2world.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russians Laugh at Americans. Petra Procházková Explains the CIA Chief's Trip to Moscow (opens Deník N in a new tab)
- Russia Is Preparing for an Escalation of Tensions (opens defapress.ir in a new tab)
defapress.ir — is defapress.ir biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Klimkin Explained What Could Have Been the Main Topic of the CIA Director's Talks in Moscow (opens liga.net in a new tab)
- Igor Yakovenko: Putin Is Preparing a Major Escalation: Where Russia Can Strike NATO (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
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