Dutch humanitarian organizations have warned of an increasing number of attacks and suspicious incidents that may be tied to Russian sabotage efforts, NOS reports. According to LifeLine Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence last year prevented a planned attack on the organization’s office.
A woman was reportedly offered $5,000 to carry out an explosion, but the plot was foiled. Around the same time, a drone strike destroyed the organization’s warehouse in Kyiv — the building burned down, but the staff were unharmed.
Volunteers under fire: drones and sabotage endanger aid efforts
The organization Friese Rijders has reported that late last year, a minibus carrying humanitarian aid was hit by a drone. The driver survived but was injured.
Meanwhile, the charity Samen voor Oekraïne has experienced an arson attack on a minibus in the Netherlands, accompanied by a simultaneous cyberattack on the organization’s website.
Protect Ukraine has also revealed sabotage: while driving on a Polish highway, a vehicle carrying aid for Ukrainian troops lost a wheel — investigators found the lug nuts had been deliberately loosened.
Hybrid war or coincidence? An expert explains how Russia is complicating aid delivery
Koen Aartsma, analyst at the Dutch Clingendael Institute, notes that these incidents reflect hybrid warfare tactics: Russia may aim to complicate the logistics of delivering aid to Ukraine.
While proving direct responsibility for individual incidents is difficult, charities have increased security measures. Routes have been altered, travel data publication has been restricted, and additional technical inspections of vehicles have been implemented.
Despite the threats, organizations emphasize their continued commitment: humanitarian aid to Ukraine remains critically important.
