Europe’s businesses are paying for Russia’s hybrid war
The continent is finally naming Moscow's gray-zone aggression for what it is. Now it has to deal with the bill.
European businesses are bearing the financial burden of Russia's hybrid war tactics. In recent years, a series of attacks have targeted defense executives, private companies, and warehouses, with explosive drones and arson attempts posing significant threats to infrastructure and lives. While these attacks have not resulted in catastrophic damage yet, their cumulative impact is causing financial strain on affected businesses.
Germany, for example, has openly attributed recent incidents to Russia, indicating the seriousness of the threat faced by the country under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government. Other European nations, such as the United Kingdom, Poland, Czech Republic, and Denmark, have also experienced targeted attacks against their businesses.
These incidents result in repair costs, operational losses, delays, and financial setbacks for the targeted companies. While some insurance coverage exists, it often excludes war-like acts, leaving businesses to absorb the financial burden. Russia may be deliberately causing these disruptions to financially undermine European companies, as highlighted by the significant repair bills incurred by companies targeted by undersea cable strikes.
The German government's recent efforts to address the issue, such as convening the Baltic Sea Security Summit, demonstrate a recognition of the need for a coordinated response to this emerging threat.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
