Rise in National Security Crimes Linked to Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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Rise in National Security Crimes Linked to Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

The last five years have seen the number of suspected crimes against national security increase by over 50 percent, shows a compilation by TV4 News. And there is a connection to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Two types of crimes contribute to the increase. One is unlawful intrusion into protected objects, such as military facilities, shooting ranges and airports. According to TV4 News, which has reviewed court statistics, the Swedish Armed Forces have said that "it's only a matter of time before someone gets killed".

It's often people like Bosse Bärkorg and Stina Stavgång who wander into areas that were previously more open to the public. Now they are training more and the risk of private individuals getting hurt has increased significantly, says David Bergman, researcher at the Swedish Defence University, to TV4.

The other crime is unauthorized imaging of protected objects, where the major increase has occurred after Russia launched its attack war against Ukraine in 2022. But also Sweden's entry into Nato in 2024.

Russia has taken a more aggressive stance towards Sweden. With that, one can also assume that Russia is conducting more information gathering and mapping against Sweden. Mapping Sweden's war planning, where Swedish units are located, what they do, what equipment they have, when new equipment arrives, and so on, says intelligence researcher Tony Ingesson at Lund University.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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