Putin poised to intensify Ukraine war and hybrid attacks after election

Sources with intelligence backgrounds report that Vladimir Putin is gearing up to amplify the war in Ukraine and step up hybrid attacks on Europe after the Russian parliamentary election. They describe administrative steps toward a hidden mobilization that would be triggered once the new State Duma is seated. The decision is said to stem from significant Russian casualties on the front and a preference for escalation over a peace initiative associated with Donald Trump.

All parties contesting the election support the war, and United Russia is expected to retain a dominant majority. European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk, have warned of intensified Russian hybrid threats, citing recent events such as a Russian frigate firing at a Danish military helicopter and a drone intercepted over Lithuania. NATO officials caution that such actions could be framed as accidents to avoid a collective response.