What is key point 1 about "The Ex-Taxi Driver at the Center of Russia’s Shadow War"?

Former taxi driver Aleksei Kolosovsky is central to Russia's sabotage campaign against European allies of Ukraine

What is key point 2 about "The Ex-Taxi Driver at the Center of Russia’s Shadow War"?

Kolosovsky recruited his longtime friend Mr. Mikhailov for a covert 'DHL operation'

What is key point 3 about "The Ex-Taxi Driver at the Center of Russia’s Shadow War"?

Mr. Mikhailov is currently detained in Azerbaijan while Poland seeks his arrest via Interpol red notice

What is key point 4 about "The Ex-Taxi Driver at the Center of Russia’s Shadow War"?

Russia has filed a counterapplication with Interpol in an attempt to retrieve the detained operative

2/22/2026 | USA | general | ✓ Verified - nytimes.com

The Ex-Taxi Driver at the Center of Russia’s Shadow War

#Russia sabotage campaign #Aleksei Kolosovsky #DHL operation #Interpol red notice #European allies Ukraine #Former taxi driver spy #Azerbaijan detention #Diplomatic tug of war

📌 Key Takeaways

Former taxi driver Aleksei Kolosovsky is central to Russia's sabotage campaign against European allies of Ukraine
Kolosovsky recruited his longtime friend Mr. Mikhailov for a covert 'DHL operation'
Mr. Mikhailov is currently detained in Azerbaijan while Poland seeks his arrest via Interpol red notice
Russia has filed a counterapplication with Interpol in an attempt to retrieve the detained operative

📖 Full Retelling

Former taxi driver Aleksei Kolosovsky, 42, has emerged as a key figure in Russia's escalating sabotage campaign against European allies of Ukraine, recruiting individuals for covert operations including a mysterious 'DHL operation' that has drawn international attention. Security officials from two European countries have revealed that Kolosovsky specifically recruited Mr. Mikhailov, his longtime friend, for this operation, which appears to be part of Moscow's broader destabilization efforts targeting nations supporting Kyiv. The situation has now evolved into a complex diplomatic standoff as Mr. Mikhailov finds himself detained in Azerbaijan while caught between competing legal requests from Poland and Russia. Warsaw has issued a 'red notice' through Interpol seeking his arrest, while Moscow has filed a counterapplication in a tactic frequently employed by Russian intelligence to retrieve detained operatives and spies. This case highlights Russia's increasingly sophisticated approach to covert operations, utilizing seemingly ordinary citizens as operatives in its shadow war against Western nations.

🏷️ Themes

Espionage, International Relations, Covert Operations

📚 Related People & Topics

Interpol notice

International alert/announcement

An Interpol notice is an international alert circulated by Interpol to communicate information about crimes, criminals, and threats by police in a member state (or an authorised international entity) to their counterparts around the world. The information disseminated via notices concerns individual...

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This case highlights Russia's use of international law enforcement tools like Interpol to protect its intelligence operatives abroad, complicating extradition efforts. It reveals ongoing shadow warfare tactics between Russia and European nations, straining diplomatic relations. The situation underscores vulnerabilities in international policing mechanisms to state manipulation.

Context & Background

Mikhailov was recruited by Kolosovsky for a DHL operation
Mikhailov is currently detained in Azerbaijan
Poland issued an Interpol red notice for his arrest
Russia filed a counterapplication with Interpol to retrieve him

What Happens Next

Azerbaijan will likely assess the competing extradition requests from Poland and Russia. Interpol may need to adjudicate the validity of the red notice versus Russia's counterclaim. The outcome could set a precedent for handling similar cases involving alleged spies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Interpol red notice?

An Interpol red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.

Why does Russia file counterapplications with Interpol?

Russia often files counterapplications to prevent the extradition of its citizens, particularly intelligence agents, by disputing arrest warrants.

What was the DHL operation mentioned?

The article does not specify details but indicates it was an intelligence operation for which Mikhailov was recruited by Kolosovsky.

Original Source

              Security officials from two European countries say Mr. Mikhailov is a longtime friend of Mr. Kolosovsky, who recruited him specifically for the DHL operation. Mr. Mikhailov is now caught in a diplomatic tug of war. Currently detained in Azerbaijan, he is wanted in Poland, which issued a “red notice” through Interpol asking for his arrest. Russia has filed a counterapplication with Interpol, a move that it often uses to retrieve its arrested spies and agents.
            

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Source

nytimes.com