Europe considers active response to Russia's hybrid attacks
European states are discussing the possibility of transition to active defensive measures in response to the growth of hybrid attacks by Russia. This is described in the article Politico.
NATO and EU member states are considering a number of possible steps that could be taken both as part of national solutions and in the format of collective action.
What measures are being discussed
According to Politico, among the options for an active response:
joint offensive cyber operations,
fast attribution of attacks - the official instant reference to russia,
Unannounced NATO-led exercises near the borders of russia,
accelerated strengthening of the critical infrastructure of EU countries.
European officials stress that the response should be «tangible» and capable of deterring further destructive actions by Moscow.
Record level of hybrid activity in Russia
According to the analytical centre Globsec, From January to July 2025 alone, the following was recorded more than 110 attempts at sabotage and attacks, The majority of them are in Poland and France.
Among the incidents of recent weeks:
violations of Polish and Romanian airspace by Russian drones,
large-scale GPS jamming, The situation at the airports and military bases was complicated,
cyberattacks on energy facilities and transport infrastructure,
actions aimed at disrupting logistics and critical nodes.
Why it matters
In Brussels, there is an increasingly common view that Passive defence is running out of steam, and Russia is intensively testing the limits. Some states, such as Poland, Lithuania and Estonia, are openly calling for a tougher and faster response.
Analysts note that if such measures are agreed, Europe may for the first time move from deterrence to active counteraction to hybrid attacks.
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