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Do Putin’s threats include the US, and the acts of terrorism and sabotage as the Special Intelligence Operations?
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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats and allegations increasingly include the United States and frame acts of sabotage and terrorism as “special intelligence operations” orchestrated by Western powers. This is part of a broader strategy of hybrid warfare, designed to sow fear and discord while providing plausible deniability. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Threats and allegations against the U.S. and West

Sabotage: In early 2025, U.S. officials informed the Kremlin of a Russian intelligence plot to plant incendiary devices on cargo planes bound for North America. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and CIA Director Bill Burns explicitly warned Putin that America would hold Russia responsible for such sabotage, threatening to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Terrorism: Russian officials, including Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, have blamed the U.S. for orchestrating “terrorist attacks” against Russia. Following drone attacks on the Kremlin in May 2023, Putin himself blamed Western “special services”. This has been a recurring theme, with Moscow frequently denying its own involvement in sabotage while accusing Western nations of terrorism.
Election interference: U.S. intelligence agencies consistently report that Russia interferes in U.S. elections to damage opposing candidates, boost preferred ones, and stoke division. In 2024, the Department of Justice indicted individuals for being part of a covert Russian influence operation. The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned Russian entities for creating and spreading disinformation, including through the use of generative AI.
Critical infrastructure attacks: A March 2025 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) details an escalating campaign of Russian-led sabotage against European and U.S. targets in Europe. These attacks include explosives, electronic attacks, and cutting undersea fiber-optic cables. In December 2024, German prosecutors announced charges against Russian nationals for allegedly surveilling a U.S. military base.
Military confrontation rhetoric: Putin and other Russian officials have used aggressive rhetoric and updated military doctrines to threaten the West.

Nuclear threats: In November 2024, Russia lowered its threshold for using nuclear weapons, expanding scenarios to include a response to an attack by a non-nuclear state if it is supported by a nuclear power.
Missile deployments: In July 2024, Putin threatened to restart production of intermediate-range nuclear weapons and station them within striking distance of the West if the U.S. deployed long-range missiles to Germany. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]

Accusations as “special intelligence operations”
Russian state media, including official statements from its Foreign Ministry, often re-frame acts of sabotage and terrorism within the context of a wider conflict with the West.

Mischaracterizing Ukrainian actions: Following reports of Ukrainian sabotage inside Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova framed Ukraine’s actions as a result of Western instruction, calling it international terrorism enabled by the West.
Framing domestic dissent: Russia uses a broader definition of “terrorism” that can blur into concerns about “extremism” and political dissent, allowing the state to categorize internal unrest or external provocations as an assault on national unity. [1, 15]

Overall, Western intelligence assessments show that Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign, which includes sabotage and influence operations, is escalating and targets U.S. and European interests. Simultaneously, Russia dismisses these acts while accusing Western powers of sponsoring terrorism and interfering in its affairs. [16, 17, 18]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/new…
[2] babel.ua/en/news/114456-nyt-…
[3] reuters.com/world/russia-acc…
[4] csis.org/analysis/russias-sh…
[5] lieber.westpoint.edu/sabotag…
[6] nbcnews.com/news/world/putin…
[7] aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/28…
[8] jpost.com/international/arti…
[9] usatoday.com/story/news/poli…
[10] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia…
[11] reuters.com/world/us-suspend…
[12] home.treasury.gov/news/press…
[13] nbcnews.com/politics/nationa…
[14] recordedfuture.com/research/…
[15] brookings.edu/articles/putin…
[16] theworldmind.org/briefing-ar…
[17] newsweek.com/donald-trump-ad…
[18] youtube.com/shorts/exLWEUGtP…

Putin threatens European leaders who voted for anti-Russia sanctions – Google Search google.com/search?q=Putin+th…
Following Russia’s escalation of its war against Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has made various threats and hostile statements directed at European leaders and countries supporting sanctions against Russia. In September 2025, Europe responded to new Russian drone attacks and hybrid warfare tactics by proposing additional sanctions. [1, 2, 3]
Putin’s threats and hostile actions
Military and hybrid warfare:

In September 2025, European leaders, including Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, accused Russia of escalating tensions and “testing how far it can go” by violating NATO airspace.
The accusations followed Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace in early September and Estonian airspace on September 19, which prompted NATO to launch its “Eastern Sentry” deterrence initiative.
The Atlantic Council stated that Russia has been engaged in a multifaceted hybrid warfare campaign against Europe since at least 2022, which includes GPS jamming, sabotage, arson attacks, and assassination attempts. [2, 4, 5]

Nuclear threats:

Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly issued nuclear threats, warning of the danger of a direct confrontation with the West.
In June 2024, Putin suggested that calls for Russia’s “strategic defeat” by Western politicians were reckless given Russia’s nuclear arsenal, stating that a “point of no return” is dangerously close. [6, 7]

Targeting leaders with sanctions:

Russia has imposed its own sanctions on thousands of Western politicians, officials, and journalists in retaliation for Western sanctions. [8]

European response
New sanctions package:

On September 19, 2025, the European Commission proposed a 19th package of sanctions in response to Russia’s escalated attacks on Ukraine and EU infrastructure.
The package, pending approval by EU member states, includes measures to completely ban Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by 2027 and blacklist additional vessels in Russia’s “shadow fleet”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “As threats escalate, so too will our pressure,” in response to Russia’s provocations. [1, 3, 9]

Bolstered military readiness:

Following airspace incursions, Poland invoked NATO’s Article 4 for consultations with allies.
NATO has launched the “Eastern Sentry” initiative and is strengthening its eastern flank with enhanced air defense and intelligence sharing. [2, 5]

Diplomatic pressure:

In May 2025, European leaders traveled to Kyiv with a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, warning Russia of “massive” new sanctions if it did not agree. However, Russia continued its attacks, showing little interest in genuine peace talks on Ukraine’s terms. [10, 11, 12]

Challenges to unity:

The European Union faces challenges in maintaining a unified front on Russia sanctions. Some far-right populist parties have historically been more sympathetic to Russia.
Hungary and Slovakia have been noted for sometimes delaying or blocking new sanctions.
Recent American statements under President Trump have also complicated European efforts to present a united front, particularly concerning energy sanctions. [13, 14, 15]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] asisonline.org/security-mana…
[2] theguardian.com/world/live/2…
[3] theguardian.com/world/live/2…
[4] understandingwar.org/researc…
[5] atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/uk…
[6] mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/new…
[7] meduza.io/en/news/2025/08/04…
[8] consilium.europa.eu/en/polic…
[9] eunews.it/en/2025/09/19/19th…
[10] reuters.com/world/europe/eur…
[11] reuters.com/world/europe/eur…
[12] nypost.com/2025/05/10/us-new…
[13] theconversation.com/european…
[14] asisonline.org/security-mana…
[15] link.springer.com/chapter/10… x.com/aleksbrz11/status/1969025792257720611

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Sep 19, 2025