Overview
- Russia’s defense ministry released a list of 21 European companies on Wednesday and Dmitry Medvedev called it a roster of potential targets for Russian forces.
- Following Saturday’s reports that Hanau appears on the list, the city said it had contacted federal intelligence and police, and German officials warned of heightened risks from cyberattacks, spying and sabotage.
- EU officials rejected the threats and said Moscow is using intimidation tactics, with one spokesperson pointing to Russia’s own economic strains as the war grinds on.
- Journalists checking the entries found errors that undercut the list’s credibility, including addresses that led to a Vietnamese restaurant, a paint shop and a residential building instead of drone sites.
- The threats landed as Russia carried out large strikes that killed at least 18 people in Ukraine, and as Kyiv and allies expanded drone cooperation, including a Dutch funding pledge, a German partnership and a UK plan to send 120,000 drones.