According to a 2025 IISS report covered by Militär Aktuell, Russia is escalating its hybrid warfare campaign against Europe through sabotage, espionage, and covert operations aimed at destabilizing European political systems. The Kremlin allegedly uses tactics such as sabotage on critical infrastructure and recruiting third-country nationals online to circumvent European intelligence countermeasures. Despite warnings from European security authorities, a coherent response remains lacking due to political disagreements, limited budgets, and competing security priorities, especially across NATO and EU member states. The report highlights Russia's targeting of energy facilities, communications networks, and transport hubs, exacerbating vulnerabilities from years of underinvestment in infrastructure. The escalation follows the 2022 large-scale invasion of Ukraine and represents a broader Russian strategy of hybrid warfare beyond conventional frontlines. NATO's Baltic Sea security initiatives, such as the 'Baltic Sentry' operation, exemplify limited defensive responses constrained by strategic and financial difficulties. The report stresses the high risk posed by Russia's poorly trained yet adequately equipped proxies and the structural weakness of European defenses, urging coordinated punitive measures and greater deterrence. The analysis also underscores growing concerns about Russian intelligence operations using internet recruitment to evade strict European security screening.

According to a 2025 IISS report covered by Militär Aktuell, Russia is escalating its hybrid warfare campaign against Europe through sabotage, espionage, and covert operations aimed at destabilizing European political systems. The Kremlin allegedly uses tactics such as sabotage on critical infrastructure and recruiting third-country nationals online to circumvent European intelligence countermeasures. Despite warnings from European security authorities, a coherent response remains lacking due to political disagreements, limited budgets, and competing security priorities, especially across NATO and EU member states. The report highlights Russia's targeting of energy facilities, communications networks, and transport hubs, exacerbating vulnerabilities from years of underinvestment in infrastructure. The escalation follows the 2022 large-scale invasion of Ukraine and represents a broader Russian strategy of hybrid warfare beyond conventional frontlines. NATO's Baltic Sea security initiatives, such as the 'Baltic Sentry' operation, exemplify limited defensive responses constrained by strategic and financial difficulties. The report stresses the high risk posed by Russia's poorly trained yet adequately equipped proxies and the structural weakness of European defenses, urging coordinated punitive measures and greater deterrence. The analysis also underscores growing concerns about Russian intelligence operations using internet recruitment to evade strict European security screening.