Toy Soldiers

Sometimes, the effect is subtle. You listen to a statement from a respected figure - a general, a former intelligence chief, or a senior security expert. The person speaks with confidence, appears credible, and has a reputation built over years of service. And yet, something in their tone, emphasis, or framing triggers a quiet sense of unease. An elusive “something feels off” that is difficult to articulate - but impossible to ignore.

This study by the Centre for Defence Reforms seeks to answer the question: why?

Using case studies from France, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Norway, the researchers uncover how russia systematically builds relationships with former senior officials in the defense and security sectors across Europe. By leveraging their authority and perceived neutrality, the russian federation is able to shape public discourse, erode Western unity, and advance its imperialist ambitions without firing a shot, yet with deeply damaging consequences.

This publication aims to shed light on the hidden mechanisms of informational influence and to explain how “undermining from within” has become an integral part of russia’s strategy in its war against both Ukraine and Europe.