Russian ‘intelligence operation bombards wives and girlfriends of Dutch fighter pilots with nuisance calls’
- Russians interrogated the women on the presence of the pilots, a report says
- They were berated repeatedly with nuisance calls during a Baltic mission in 2017
- Royal Netherlands Air Force deployed F-16s to the region as part of NATO
- Defence expert claims the harassment of soldiers partners is continuing today
Russian intelligence bombarded the wives and girlfriends of Dutch fighter pilots with nuisance calls while they flew in the Baltic, a report claims.
During 2017, the women were called and berated by men with ‘Russian accents’ about their other-halves’ presence in the region, sources from the MIVD (the Dutch equivalent of MI6) told De Telegraf.
Phones rang repeatedly and questions are understood to have included, ‘What do you think of it?’ And ‘Wouldn’t it be better if he left?’
The Royal Netherlands Air Force deployed F-16s in NATO’s Baltic air policing mission, which was heightened after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
An F-16 jet fighter of Royal Dutch Air Force lands on the runway of Volkel air base, southern Netherlands, on January 2, 2019
It is unknown whether the calls have continued. Although the Dutch are no longer active in eastern Europe, they do have infantry stationed in Lithuania.
The MIVD sources would only confirm they knew about the nuisance calls in 2017, De Telegraf reported.
Defence analyst, Dick Zandee, told NOS: ‘It’s a well-known phenomenon but it’s the first time it is reported.’
The Dutch royal airforce presents a new F-16-demonstration aircraft in Volkel, Netherlands in 2009
Mr Zandee said a trolling campaign is still being waged against Dutch forces in Lithuania
The calls began when servicemen called home with their own mobiles, the Dutch paper reported, citing sources within the air force.
Now pilots are prohibited from using these phones and must use a local SIM card.