Russia's hybrid warfare against Europe and NATO has escalated into a more dangerous phase, involving tactics such as undersea cable cuts, incendiary devices hidden in cargo, and arson attacks on weapons factories and depots across Europe. These activities remained below the threshold that might trigger a collective NATO response during 2021-2024, with NATO focusing on defensive measures such as reinforcing critical infrastructure, increasing Baltic Sea patrols, and intelligence sharing. However, the scale and intensity of these hybrid operations signify a new and more aggressive phase of warfare by Russia.

Russia's hybrid warfare against Europe and NATO has escalated into a more dangerous phase, involving tactics such as undersea cable cuts, incendiary devices hidden in cargo, and arson attacks on weapons factories and depots across Europe. These activities remained below the threshold that might trigger a collective NATO response during 2021-2024, with NATO focusing on defensive measures such as reinforcing critical infrastructure, increasing Baltic Sea patrols, and intelligence sharing. However, the scale and intensity of these hybrid operations signify a new and more aggressive phase of warfare by Russia.