The Associated Press investigation dated 26 December 2025 analyzed 145 incidents of Russian sabotage and hybrid attacks in Europe, including arson, explosions, vandalism, and cyberattacks, with confirmed links to Russia and its proxies. Target countries with significant NATO and government officials supportive of Ukraine include Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands. A sharp escalation in attacks was recorded from 1 incident in 2023 to 26 in 2024 and continuing in 2025. Russia employs a hybrid warfare model outsourcing sabotage through individuals with criminal backgrounds and foreign nationals lacking official ties to Russia, thus minimizing direct exposure and costs. A tactical pause was observed around late 2024 to early 2025, likely to avoid provoking the new US administration, before resumption at full intensity. Despite mostly limited physical damage, the campaign causes strategic harm by overburdening intelligence and police, exposing critical infrastructure, undermining public trust, and weakening European societal resilience. The report concludes that inadequate international responses risk normalization of sabotage as a foreign policy tool, worsening future European security challenges.

The Associated Press investigation dated 26 December 2025 analyzed 145 incidents of Russian sabotage and hybrid attacks in Europe, including arson, explosions, vandalism, and cyberattacks, with confirmed links to Russia and its proxies. Target countries with significant NATO and government officials supportive of Ukraine include Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands. A sharp escalation in attacks was recorded from 1 incident in 2023 to 26 in 2024 and continuing in 2025. Russia employs a hybrid warfare model outsourcing sabotage through individuals with criminal backgrounds and foreign nationals lacking official ties to Russia, thus minimizing direct exposure and costs. A tactical pause was observed around late 2024 to early 2025, likely to avoid provoking the new US administration, before resumption at full intensity. Despite mostly limited physical damage, the campaign causes strategic harm by overburdening intelligence and police, exposing critical infrastructure, undermining public trust, and weakening European societal resilience. The report concludes that inadequate international responses risk normalization of sabotage as a foreign policy tool, worsening future European security challenges.