Nato calls for calm, says Russian hybrid campaign not stopping Ukraine support

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called for calm on Tuesday regarding Russia's sabotage campaign in Europe, insisting it is failing to undermine support for Ukraine. Estonia blamed Russia for an arson attack on a defense firm in August, the latest country to attribute the act to Moscow. Rutte told journalists that Russia is "failing on the battlefield in Ukraine" and "failing to undermine our unity and support for Ukraine".

European governments say Russia is increasing a campaign of sabotage and interference against those backing Ukraine as its troops face the Kremlin on the front line, more than four years after their invasion in February 2022. Rutte admitted Russia's activities "can have an impact - and sometimes they have an impact, clearly", but urged NATO countries to remain "calm, carry on and support Ukraine".

He cautioned against being naive about Russia, but insisted they know NATO is stronger. Lithuania's Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius said intelligence services have no proof Russia is preparing for something bigger, stating that while the risk remains, it is not increasing or decreasing.