STOCKHOLM — Russian intelligence agencies have escalated efforts to steal Western defense and dual-use technology as sanctions intensify pressure on the country’s wartime economy, according to senior European intelligence officials. Moscow’s operatives are deploying cyber spies, creating fake companies, and recruiting intermediaries to acquire machinery, research, and equipment that could be used to attack critical infrastructure.

“They really know what they need, and are putting serious effort into acquiring advanced machine tools, factory equipment, research, and dual-use technology,” said Christoffer Wedelin, deputy head of operations at the Swedish Security Service. In Sweden, Russian intelligence is specifically targeting the defense industry and high-end research on advanced weaponry, including the Gripen fighter jet. Russia is also seeking civilian-developed camera and laser technologies that could be integrated into its weapons systems.

Moscow is deploying cyberattacks against European firms and critical infrastructure to gather intelligence it could exploit when they get the chance and when it serves their purpose, officials said. Wedelin cited a failed cyberattack last year on a Swedish power plant as evidence of this shift. Russian-linked actors attempted to “destroy” the facility, but the intrusion was detected before damage occurred. Before that incident, Swedish security services had primarily observed reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering activities.

“The attack marked a ‘switch’ in Russia's modus operandi. They’re no longer caring as much about potential attribution after their activities, so they are taking greater risks to achieve their goals,” Wedelin said. He added, “All of the security and intelligence services in Russia are helping out on the state’s efforts to get this.”

Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service director Juha Martelius noted that Russia is seeking space, quantum, arctic, and marine technologies, emphasizing that space technology is something Russia needs “right now.” Countries use such technology for satellite imaging, communications, and navigation. Russia also requires sanctioned computer software and updates for machine tools, according to Martelius.

Separately, Anne Keast-Butler, director of the U.K.’s signals intelligence agency, accused Russia of “relentlessly targeting” the U.K. and its European allies through technology theft, sabotage plots, and assassination attempts. In May, Swedish police arrested two individuals suspected of violating sanctions in connection with a Turkish company that shipped dozens of metalworking machine tools to Russia.