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Russia is ramping up its hybrid warfare against European nations, with attacks growing increasingly aggressive and dangerous, according to a Bloomberg news investigation. European officials warn that the campaign could soon lead to civilian casualties. Previously accused of meddling in elections and using migrant networks, Russia is now suspected of sabotage, arson, attacks on critical infrastructure, cyberattacks, and airspace violations.

Many of these incidents, particularly cyberattacks and hacks, are not reported publicly, suggesting the true scale of the hybrid campaign is far greater.

Over the past two months, Russia has intensified its efforts against targets directly supporting Ukraine. A NATO official told Bloomberg that the campaign has grown more aggressive and carries higher risks. Its aim is strategic rather than purely destructive, seeking to exploit weaknesses in NATO's infrastructure through flexible and risk-taking tactics.

Emily Ferris, an associate fellow at the UK's Royal United Services Institute, confirms Russia's consistent targeting of NATO vulnerabilities and willingness to employ a range of tactics.

The Kremlin, sources in Russia's intelligence services tell Bloomberg, is acting out of desperation amid the impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on logistics hubs and the fuel and energy sector. These strikes have damaged Russia's economy, prompting calls within its leadership for Europe to bear the costs of supporting Kyiv. A Kremlin insider alleges that Russia plans to "make life hell" for Europe through asymmetric hybrid operations as a response to Ukraine's support.

Despite the aggressive campaign, Bloomberg reports that the strategy has backfired so far. Germany, facing increasing attacks, has announced it will supply Ukraine with missiles for its air defense systems and is serially producing drones for the Ukrainian military. The ongoing war in Ukraine, with Russian drone and missile strikes, has resulted in civilian casualties.

On September 17, Russian strikes damaged infrastructure in Kyiv and Odesa, causing injuries. Meduza, a Russian news outlet, has published photographs of the aftermath of a strike in Odesa. The outlet emphasizes its commitment to transparency in the use of artificial intelligence in reporting, with human editors reviewing and fact-checking all content before publication.