A surge of sabotage attacks targeting military and defense sector facilities across Europe has been reported from August to early September 2026. The incidents include drone attacks, arson, and suspicious fires in Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Estonia, Slovakia, and Poland. Germany officially blamed Russia for a drone attack at Leipzig airport, which is significant as the airport was used to transport military aid to Ukraine. Other countries suspect or are investigating Russian involvement. The sabotage campaign appears designed to pressure European countries and disrupt their support for Ukraine, testing NATO's responses and vulnerabilities. Russian proxies are believed to be behind many attacks, with some incidents involving arrested suspects. Analysts link the increase in attacks to developments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, suggesting it is part of a coercive hybrid warfare strategy. NATO faces challenges in responding to what is viewed as a Soviet-style campaign of small, deniable attacks aimed at escalating tension without overt war declaration.

A surge of sabotage attacks targeting military and defense sector facilities across Europe has been reported from August to early September 2026. The incidents include drone attacks, arson, and suspicious fires in Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Estonia, Slovakia, and Poland. Germany officially blamed Russia for a drone attack at Leipzig airport, which is significant as the airport was used to transport military aid to Ukraine. Other countries suspect or are investigating Russian involvement. The sabotage campaign appears designed to pressure European countries and disrupt their support for Ukraine, testing NATO's responses and vulnerabilities. Russian proxies are believed to be behind many attacks, with some incidents involving arrested suspects. Analysts link the increase in attacks to developments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, suggesting it is part of a coercive hybrid warfare strategy. NATO faces challenges in responding to what is viewed as a Soviet-style campaign of small, deniable attacks aimed at escalating tension without overt war declaration.