EU calls for decisive action against Russia’s hybrid warfare

 

Nivette Dawod 

Published 12:52 | Updated 13:19 

 

In early August, a drone carrying explosives was discovered near Ukrainian aircraft at the airport in Leipzig. Photo: Sebastian Willnow/AP/TT

Russia is escalating its hybrid warfare against Europe—but NATO countries are failing to keep pace, experts warn.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is now calling for the creation of a European Security Council.

"We must immediately agree on how to respond to certain incidents," she said in a speech today.

Several suspected hybrid attacks have taken place on European soil recently.

All signs point to Russia being behind them, and indicate that this is the country's way of acting when it fails to gain ground in Ukraine.

The surge in attacks has shaken European nations, yet experts warn in the *Financial Times* that NATO countries are lagging behind.

"We have sufficient deterrence to prevent Russian conventional and nuclear escalation. But we really need to rethink our approach to hybrid warfare," a source told the *Financial Times*.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Gavriil Grigorov/AP

One incident that drew significant attention involved a drone carrying an explosive device, discovered at an airport in Leipzig, Germany, on August 4. The explosive was located right next to a Ukrainian cargo plane; the site serves as a military transport hub for Ukraine.

Germany points the finger at Russia—which denies involvement.

Germany’s actions puzzle experts

However, Germany's actions are simultaneously puzzling experts. Germany did not inform the outside world about the incident until nearly a month later. This contrasts with how Poland, for instance, reacted in 2025 following drone attacks on its railway network; Prime Minister Donald Tusk quickly pointed the finger at Russia and rallied NATO allies.

Perhaps the Germans did not want to antagonize Russia—or perhaps they wished to avoid the risk of triggering Article 5 of the NATO treaty, the clause stipulating that NATO members must come to the aid of any member state that is attacked.

Regardless, this conduct demonstrates that Russia holds the upper hand in hybrid warfare; experts warn that unless NATO clearly defines where the line is drawn, attacks on Europe risk becoming the new normal.

The line is blurred

The problem is that the threshold for triggering Article 5 is ambiguous, Keir Giles of the think tank Chatham House told the FT.

"As long as that line remains unclear, Russia can keep pushing it forward. Unless we demonstrate that there is a price to pay, they will continue to push the boundaries."

Addressing Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also raised the issue of hybrid warfare. She advocates for the creation of a European security council, drawing a parallel with another NATO provision—Article 4—which mandates consultation among parties whenever one of them believes its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is under threat.

"Europe needs its own strategy to counter hybrid threats. We must immediately agree on how to respond to specific incidents," she said, referring specifically to actions that "do not reach the threshold of an armed attack but clearly threaten our national security."