Russia’s diplomatic compounds in Stockholm have experienced more than 20 acts of vandalism since May 2024, with an unidentified drone dropping a bag of red paint within the premises of the Russian trade mission. The incident has raised diplomatic tensions between Russia and Sweden, with the Russian Foreign Ministry criticizing the Swedish authorities for failing to ensure proper security for Russian diplomatic missions, especially following Sweden’s NATO membership in March 2024. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow had repeatedly requested Swedish authorities to provide adequate protection for the Russian missions, despite assurances that necessary measures would be taken. She also accused Sweden of losing control over its internal and external security as a result of its NATO membership, stating that such provocations pose a threat not only to the diplomatic mission but also to the city’s residents.
The escalation of the Ukraine conflict since 2022 has led to a surge in acts of vandalism and harassment against Russian diplomatic buildings across various countries. Recent incidents include the detention of a woman who threatened a police officer guarding the Russian Embassy in Berlin with a knife and two pro-Ukraine activists in France who were sentenced to eight months of house arrest after throwing three improvised bombs filled with liquid nitrogen at the Russian Consulate in Marseilles. Moscow condemned the punishment as far too lenient for an attempt to commit a terrorist act. These events highlight the intensifying geopolitical tensions and the broader impact of the conflict on diplomatic relations and security measures in NATO countries.