According to the Swedish secret service Säpo, one year after the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia poses a serious threat to the country’s security.
“Russia and other authoritarian states have become more offensive in their actions,” said Säpo boss Charlotte von Essen during a press conference on Wednesday. China also poses a growing security risk. Protecting Swedish democracy has never been more important, but it has also never been more difficult, the intelligence service’s situation report said.
“The war of aggression has changed the European security order and the security situation in Sweden,” said von Essen. Russia sees Sweden as part of Europe and also as part of NATO, it said. The “regime” is ready to take big risks. “There is extensive intelligence activity against our country,” counterintelligence chief Daniel Stenling said. At the same time, there is an increased risk of assassination in Sweden, both by Islamist and right-wing extremist forces.
