Alleged documents leaked from a supposed Russian psychological warfare unit suggest that “cognitive attacks” are being strategically crafted to undermine morale in Western countries, such as the planned distribution of pig parts at mosques in Paris in 2025.
Recent reports regarding protests and vandalism indicate that Russian intelligence operatives are capitalizing on the tensions caused by mass immigration into the West to foster distrust. A report claims these leaks originate from the Social Design Agency (SDA), a Russian digital marketing firm said to operate as a disinformation mechanism for Moscow. Their reported activities include psychological operations that target Muslims, Jews, immigrants, and environmental policies.
If we assume this document isn’t a piece of disinformation itself—unlike the SDA’s operations—it apparently outlines how these schemes are organized and how they are communicated to the Kremlin. One document featured an unpublished image of a table cluttered with pigs’ heads, all marked with “Macron,” the name of the French President, in blue paint, prior to one of the SDA’s projects. In 2025, most of these heads were reportedly left at a mosque in the Paris region, an incident that gained significant media attention.
The purpose behind leaving the pig’s heads was allegedly to heighten tensions, and an evaluation later noted that this act received extensive coverage in international media.
Additional tactics aimed at countries like France, Germany, and Armenia included a plan to release inflatable dolls into the Seine, each marked with “fuck immigrants,” likely intended to embarrass anti-immigration activists. Another operation sought to undermine support for Ukraine through graffiti on a statue of Charles de Gaulle, a significant figure in French history.
Other actions attributed to this group included sabotaging SUVs in Germany with slogans from the Green Party and vandalizing synagogues and Holocaust memorials.
France 24 reported that three Serbians connected to the SDA had prior convictions and were found to be working for Russian intelligence. Three additional individuals were arrested in France on suspicion of acting on behalf of a foreign power.
For years, European governments have been focused on what’s termed Russia’s hybrid warfare, which encompasses espionage and sabotage intended to destabilize without crossing the line into outright war. However, these operations don’t seem to be executed by traditional intelligence agencies but by freelancers who are often unaware of their actual employer.
This approach has made it quite simple to attribute various misdeeds to Moscow, and accusations of Russian influence have become commonplace in Western political discussions, regardless of supporting evidence.
Similar situations have arisen in the past. In April, various incidents occurred, including a Polish national arrested for allegedly conducting reconnaissance related to an airport used by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy when he travels abroad.
Since Ukraine is under a no-fly zone, officials must first cross into Poland and then take a VIP train to a certain airport before boarding flights. Polish prosecutors noted that the arrested man’s mission included gathering information that could facilitate an assassination attempt against President Zelenskiy.
Moreover, that same month saw the arrest of dual German-Russian nationals in Germany for suspected reconnaissance related to a U.S. military base in Bavaria, where Ukrainian soldiers were being trained. They apparently plotted to carry out explosions against German military infrastructure. One suspect faced multiple charges, including conspiring to commit sabotage.
In the UK, five individuals were charged in connection with an arson attack on a Ukrainian-owned store, with at least one member accused of aiding foreign intelligence services. Similarly, in February, Estonia arrested ten suspected saboteurs involved in a “hybrid operation.” This terminology has become prevalent in current warfare discussions.
Additionally, in December 2023, a group of 14 individuals, including Ukrainian refugees, were sentenced for intelligence gathering and planning various assaults. They had supposed ties to Russian intelligence and were promised payment in cryptocurrency for their efforts.
Moscow supposedly offered $5 for putting up pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian posters and $400 for installing surveillance equipment at strategic points. Reports indicated a reward of $10,000 in cryptocurrency for derailing a military supply train to Ukraine.
While the notion of train derailments may sound far-fetched, such strategies are already in play in the ongoing Ukraine war, where pro-Ukrainian saboteurs work to disrupt Russian supply lines by damaging tracks and derailing trains.
