In 2025, Swedish authorities received over 2,000 reports of suspected crimes targeting critical societal infrastructure—double the number from the previous year. The reports involved power and water plants, transportation infrastructure, and other facilities deemed vital to society.
Around 25% of incidents included intrusion, photography, or other activities at protected sites, according to a survey by Ekot, Swedish public radio. Of all cases, 139 resulted in criminal charges.
Several factors explain the rise. More operations have recently been classified as critical infrastructure, bringing additional facilities under special legislation. Many incidents also involved individuals who accidentally entered restricted areas or photographed sensitive sites without knowing their importance.
To address the growing threat, the police in Västra Götaland, a county in western Sweden, established a special unit to investigate such incidents—the first of its kind in the country.
Swedish Security Service Säpo chief Charlotte von Essen emphasized the need for greater cooperation: “We need to work together to detect incidents that could involve potential sabotage or other hybrid activities by Russia or another foreign power,” she said.
The concerns in Sweden reflect a wider European trend. Last year, Italian defense minister Guido Crosetto warned of a sharp rise in sabotage, drone incursions, and other hybrid attacks across the continent.
In a 125-page report titled “Countering Hybrid Warfare: An Active Strategy,” Crosetto argued that Europe faces “daily and growing risks of catastrophic damage” from sabotage, disinformation campaigns, and attacks on critical infrastructure, decision-making centers, and essential services, with some operations allegedly linked to Russia.
