Editor's note: The article was updated after the Czech Foreign Ministry corrected its press release to indicate Minister Lipavsky said Russia is responsible for 80% of influence operations in Europe rather than the whole world.
Russia is responsible for 80% of all the foreign influence operations in Europe, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said at a conference in Prague on Oct. 9.
"Russia is currently responsible for 80% of influence operations in Europe. This is four times more than the rest of the world combined," Lipavsky said.
According to Lipavsky, Europe needs to gear up its vigilance to counter such threats.
"We need much more determination in the fight against Kremlin influence than we have shown so far. The solution lies in strategic communication, sanctions, exposing crimes, and utilizing existing legal measures," Lipavsky said.
Earlier this week, senior U.S. intelligence officials warned of malign influence campaigns ramping up in the U.S. by their adversaries ahead of the Nov. 5 elections.
U.S. intelligence officials reported that Russia continues to actively run influence campaigns aimed at boosting former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump while undermining the campaign of Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
In August, Mali and Niger severed their diplomatic ties with Ukraine due to what is suspected to be Russian influence in the two countries.
Apart from countering Russian foreign influence in Europe, the Czech Republic is also expected to deliver at least half a million shells to Ukraine by the end of this year within a framework of a Czech-led procurement called the "Czech ammunition initiative."
The Kyiv Independent news desk
(Updated: )
