The Telegraph: Russia is buying real estate near strategic sites in Western Europe for espionage and sabotage

Russian intelligence services are acquiring real estate near military and civilian strategic sites in Western European countries and turning it into a network of “Trojan horses” intended for carrying out sabotage campaigns. The Telegraph writes about this with reference to representatives of European intelligence.

According to interlocutors, Russia has already bought summer houses, country houses, warehouses, abandoned schools, city apartments and even entire islands in at least ten countries with the aim of using them as springboards for coordinated surveillance, sabotage and secret attacks.

Current and former representatives of European intelligence agencies have raised concerns that Russia may already have explosives, drones, weapons and undercover agents at some of these sites ready to act in the event of a “crisis.”

According to The Telegraph, the Russian Orthodox Church uses its churches and houses of worship in Norway and Sweden for spying, controlling drones and jamming radio signals. Also, people associated with the Kremlin have purchased houses near Arctic military bases in Norway.

In addition, Russia has bought property near naval bases and strategic waterways in Crete, Sicily and mainland Greece, as well as important sites in London, Paris and Geneva, The Telegraph writes.

Journalists note that some countries have begun to take measures against the purchase of real estate by Russian citizens and people associated with the Kremlin. Thus, in July 2025, a ban on real estate transactions for Russians and Belarusians came into force in Finland. Prior to this, the country’s Ministry of Defense received the right to block real estate transactions for Russian citizens without permanent residence or citizenship of the country.

The Telegraph recalls that back in 2018, a criminal case was opened in Finland against the management of Airiston Helmi, which acquired 17 properties in the Archipelago Sea area. There are key sea routes for Helsinki, as well as the port of Turku, where the Finnish naval command is based. Amid the persecution, Airiston Helmi was liquidated, and its owner Pavel Melnikov was sentenced to probation on charges of fraud.

In addition, Latvia closed Soviet resorts along the Baltic Sea coast over fears that they could be used as a staging area for covert operations. Poland closed the consulate general in Gdansk, and Great Britain deprived the Russian-owned estate in East Sussex of diplomatic status.

The article does not specify whether The Telegraph journalists sent requests to Russian officials.