The increasing frequency and sophistication of Russia’s hybrid attacks across Europe demand a comprehensive and multi-layered response, as their complexity — ranging from cyberattacks and disinformation to sabotage and kinetic attacks — challenges conventional defence and deterrence strategies.
Russia is not unique in using hybrid methods, so their effects and our response are closely followed by other actors, first and foremost China. Autocratic regimes favour hybrid warfare precisely because democratic states struggle with responding directly and proportionally. Hybrid attacks are usually deliberately designed to complicate detection, evade accountability, and hinder decisive responses. Additionally, the targeted nations may lack the capability or the political will to respond effectively.
This policy paper addresses the most promising areas for international response to hybrid threats. It explores the conceptual framework, as well as examines the actions taken within NATO and the EU in the fight against hybrid threats and the opportunities these organisations offer. This paper presents a set of policy recommendations for the EU, NATO, and their member states:
- Strengthen national resilience to mitigate the impact and increase the cost;
- Improve attribution capabilities for swift and clear identification;
- Enhance intelligence-sharing and situational awareness, counterintelligence, and strategic communications to expose and counter malign activities;
- Label sabotage as state terrorism to increase the moral and legal weight of a response;
- Use sanctions more extensively, enforce sanctions regimes, encourage coordination with like-minded nations, and increase flexibility;
- Unify legal interpretations, especially in maritime law;
- Standardise visa and expulsion policies;
- Foster smaller coalitions of willing nations and expand regional cooperation.
Ultimately, reinforcing European security requires a sustained, collective effort to hold Russia accountable and to demonstrate that its hybrid tactics will not go unpunished.
Download and read: Russia’s Hybrid Attacks in Europe: From Deterrence to Attribution to Response (PDF)