Russia ramps up hybrid warfare across Europe as EU struggles to respond

Russia is expanding a multifaceted hybrid offensive aimed at countries supplying weapons and money to Kyiv, using cyber attacks, armed drones and arson, while Europe remains without a comprehensive strategy. Recent events feature Poland thwarting a Russian-ordered assassination of a U.S. citizen, Estonia accusing Moscow of a fire at a drone manufacturer, and German authorities finding an explosive-laden drone near Leipzig airport.

Experts argue that NATO and EU actions have been largely reactive, focusing on individual incidents rather than building a credible deterrent. Calls for tougher sanctions, such as asset seizures and LNG bans, have yet to gain consensus, and Russian proxies continue to recruit online for sabotage missions. The Kremlin’s tactics seek to destabilise Western political systems, fracture NATO and EU unity, and erode support for Ukraine, prompting heightened alerts in the Baltic region and Poland.