{
  "id": 11410285,
  "title": "Merz Warns of New Russian Hybrid Attacks in Germany, Reaffirms Support for Ukraine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/merz-warns-of-new-russian-hybrid-attacks-in-germany-reaffirms-support",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:09:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "UATV English",
    "slug": "uatv-english",
    "url": "https://uatv.ua/en/merz-warns-of-new-russian-hybrid-attacks-in-germany-reaffirms-support-for-ukraine/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has cautioned that Russia may carry out additional hybrid attacks on Germany and reiterated Berlin's dedication to supporting Ukraine prior to what he characterized as a challenging winter, according to UATV English. \"We are preparing for further hybrid attacks, including serious ones,\" Merz declared on Thursday during a speech at the NATO alliance's 2026 Westphalian Peace Prize ceremony. German authorities have consistently warned that Russia is engaged in a hybrid campaign, employing drones and cyberattacks. Berlin has also accused Moscow of orchestrating a drone attack that targeted Leipzig Airport in August. Merz expressed Germany's aspiration to reestablish \"stable, predictable relations with Russia,\" but emphasized that there are currently no indications that Moscow is prepared to cease its war with Ukraine. \"We do not intend to humiliate the Russian people or destabilize the Russian state. However, Russia must cease the war and refrain from hybrid attacks against Europe,\" the chancellor stated. Merz also cautioned that Ukraine might endure its most severe winter since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion. He asserted that Germany, as the most powerful nation in Central Europe, has a unique obligation to offer support to Ukraine. \"We are not mediators; we stand with freedom, and that is why we stand with Ukraine,\" Merz declared. He further noted that Germany and its allies must not permit themselves to be divided by hybrid attacks, disinformation campaigns on social media, or messages propagated by Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and its backers in Russia.",
  "summary": "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that Russia could launch further hybrid attacks against Germany and reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to supporting Ukraine ahead of what he described as a difficult winter, UATV English reports. “We are preparing for further hybrid attacks, including serious ones,” Merz said Thursday in a speech at the NATO alliance’s 2026 Westphalian Peace Prize…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}