Russia’s hybrid warfare has posed growing security challenges for Europe in recent years. At the center of this activity stands Unit 29155, a special operations unit of the Russian military intelligence service (GRU), which has been linked to assassinations, acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, and influence operations across Europe.
How does this unit operate within the European sphere?
What kind of threat does it represent to Western democracies — and what lessons can be drawn for Europe’s security architecture?
These questions are addressed in the new Pantier Report No. 08/2025, titled “Unit 29155 & Russia’s Hybrid Warfare in Europe”, authored by Sarah Curry, Joseph Fitsanakis, Isabella Lafranchise, Codie McDonald, Lilyanne Sweat, and Lauren Willett from the Center for Applied Intelligence (Coastal Carolina University).
The report traces the development and structure of Unit 29155, analyzes its operations in several European countries — including Austria — and examines the growing use of so-called “disposable agents”: locally recruited individuals who are hired online and paid in cryptocurrency to carry out acts of sabotage.
As the Austrian Center for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies (ACIPSS), we have long been dedicated to the study of intelligence services, disinformation, and hybrid threats.
Through the Pantier Reports, we aim to provide fact-based analyses on current security issues and offer concrete policy recommendations for decision-makers in politics, administration, and academia.
The Pantier Report No. 08/2025 is now available for free download:
www.acipss.org/publikationen/#pantier