Intimidating Europe is part of Russia's hybrid war — The Atlantic
Russia is not preparing for a direct armed conflict with European countries. However, it is continuing a large-scale hybrid campaign aimed at scaring the West into abandoning Ukraine.
The article published in The Atlantic on September 10 examines Russia's hybrid war campaign against Europe. Kremlin propagandists have long threatened to unleash nuclear weapons on European capitals, a claim Russian diplomats dispute. However, European intelligence agencies have evidence linking Russia to numerous acts of sabotage, such as cyberattacks, arson, and attacks on undersea cables.
According to U.S. intelligence, Russia may target a NATO member between this fall and 2029. Yet, an alternative possibility exists - the Kremlin may opt for continued sabotage and intimidation.
Ryvkin notes that Moscow has not deployed troops near any NATO member's border. Instead, it is sending a carefully planned message to persuade Europe to cease supporting Ukraine. The summer of 2022 was a challenging period for Russia in Ukraine, with little battlefield progress and significant losses due to Ukrainian long-range drones. This prompted Russia to intensify its activities elsewhere in Europe.
In recent months, fires have ravaged ammunition factories in Italy, Bulgaria, and Estonia, and explosive-laden drones have been spotted near a German power plant and Leipzig Airport. Despite these incidents, Russia's hybrid warfare has thus far failed to halt the flow of weapons, money, and intelligence from Europe to Ukraine. The article suggests that Putin persists in this campaign due to its effectiveness.
Through small, expendable operatives and a continuous stream of alarming leaks, the Kremlin has instilled fear among millions of Westerners, believing Russia may launch a full-scale war against Europe. Regardless of the likelihood of such a war, Putin will continue demanding concessions in exchange for ending the campaign.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
