Defence ministry suspects Russia of 'testing' Belgian military sites
Belgium's ministry of Defence suspects Russia may be behind discreet operations testing the security of Belgian military sites, La Dernière Heure reported on Friday.
In a written parliamentary response, defence minister Ludivine Dedonder reviewed incidents in recent years near DOVO, the army's explosive ordnance disposal unit in Poelkapelle, East Flanders.
Until recently, suspicious activities near the fence, such as photography or reconnaissance, were relatively low. There were five incidents in 2020, nine in 2021 and seven in 2022. However, the numbers have surged, reaching 20 incidents recorded in 2023 and 26 in 2024, with the last three months of the year yet to be accounted for.
Additionally, fence damage increased sharply, with 19 cases in 2023 and 15 so far in 2024, compared to sporadic occurrences in previous years. Eleven individuals entered the site in the first nine months of 2024, two to three times more than in prior years.
According to Defence, "the main purpose of these intrusions is not to destroy or steal, but to test the facility". Russia is suspected to be orchestrating these tests, using random individuals in Belgium. Those who entered the property include asylum seekers housed at the former military barracks in Poelkapelle, now a reception centre.
The DOVO bomb disposal unit © BELGA PHOTO MAXIME GILLES
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