Russia Targets Belgian Officials Over Frozen €185bn

Belgian politicians and senior finance executives have been targeted in a Russian intelligence campaign, European agencies say. The goal is to stop Belgium from using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. The intimidation effort focused on key figures at Euroclear. This Belgian financial company holds most of the €185bn in Russian state assets frozen by the West. Security officials said the campaign deliberately targeted Euroclear managers and Belgian political leaders. The aim is to persuade Belgium to block the planned use of the assets' profits for Ukraine's reconstruction.