In November 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Defense Minister Zukan Helez came under fire after revealing the existence of training camps for Russian special forces and intelligence officers within the Republika Srpska entity. Critics labeled his statements as “a radical policy that fosters terrorism.” A year later, Russian intelligence officer Aleksandar Bezrukovni was apprehended on charges of sabotage, terrorism, and training pro-Russian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following his arrest in Bosanska Krupa, he was extradited to Poland, where he is accused of orchestrating attacks against Poland, the United States, Germany, and other Western allies.

Reports from Bosnian media, such as Avaz, indicate that Bezrukovni was training a group of Moldovans near Banja Luka to carry out violent actions against Moldova’s pro-European government, with the intent of hindering the country’s EU accession. Minister Helez views Bezrukovni’s capture and subsequent extradition as validation of his previous assertions.

Helez: “Moldova was aware of the pro-Russian element training in BiH”

“I faced severe verbal and media criticism from the RS as well as some Federation media who insisted that such camps were nonexistent. However, silence prevails now that a dangerous terrorist associated with Russian services has been arrested in Bosnia and Herzegovina and sent to Poland. Aleksandar Bezrukovni was already active in Poland, plotting terrorist operations in Western Europe and the United States,” Helez expressed to DW.

He added that “BiH is not a weak link in countering Russian influence, yet concerns linger about domestic security agencies, as Moldovan intelligence uncovered the training of pro-Russian factions in BiH before our own institutions did.” According to Helez, Bezrukovni entered BiH from Eastern Europe with the backing of certain “individuals and groups in RS.”

Part of the FSB’s hands-on network

Sarajevo defense and security professor Nedžad Ahatović explained to DW that Bezrukovni was integrated into the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) network, which had set up a “logistics base for training and deploying saboteurs to various locations.”

“Saboteurs trained in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and elsewhere have carried out various tasks, including drone surveillance over Ramstein Air Base in Germany and acts of sabotage at military industry sites and their subcontractors,” Ahatović claimed.

Russian logistical pathways in Europe

He noted that the arrest and extradition of Bezrukovni “interrupted one of the logistical routes for funding subversive activities,” but the issue remains regarding how many additional Russian centers might exist throughout Europe.

Una-Sana Canton Police Spokesperson Abdulah Keranović remarked that Bezrukovni was captured in Bosanska Krupa through collaboration with the Bosnian Intelligence and Security Agency (OSA).

“We received information about a foreign national with the initials BA residing illegally in the Bosanska Krupa area and suspected of holding forged documents,” Keranović informed DW.

Vejnović: “We must now establish material and legal evidence”

Professor Duško Vejnović from the Banja Luka Faculty of Security Sciences mentioned that intelligence officers usually utilize legitimate documentation to travel freely, but fabricating papers is not a significant challenge for them.

“Regarding Bezrukovni, it is logical that Russian diplomacy will refute the serious allegations. While there may be grounds for doubt, establishing substantial material and legal evidence linking him to a network operating against the interests of Poland, Germany, and others is crucial,” Vejnović told DW.

According to reports in BiH, citing security services, Bezrukovni had long been monitored by OSA and was apprehended while attempting to escape BiH.

Activities of the “Ferma” and “Vagner” groups

The US Embassy in Sarajevo previously expressed concern over reports of Russians affiliated with private military groups conducting operations in RS and training individuals to undermine democratic processes in Moldova. Radio Free Europe has also highlighted evidence of sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia where young people were trained by those connected to the Russian private military companies “Ferma” and “Vagner.”

The Bezrukovni incident raises further concerns about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s vulnerability to Russian hybrid warfare and subversive endeavors. Minister Helez contends that BiH remains a prime target for foreign intelligence services, particularly from neighboring nations and the Russian Federation.

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