Photo: dpa
Speaking today at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that recent drone incidents and violations of EU airspace are proof that Europe is already embroiled in a hybrid war being waged by Russia. She believes this threat must be countered with measures that go beyond traditional military defense.
“This is not random harassment,” von der Leyen explained. “It is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our Union, and weaken our support for Ukraine. And it is time to call it by its name. This is hybrid warfare.”
The head of the European Commission did not say that Russia was responsible for all the incidents in question. However, she stated that Russia’s apparent goal is to “sow discord” in Europe.
“Tackling Russia’s hybrid war is not only about traditional defense. This requires a new mindset for all of us. We can either shy away and watch Russian threats escalate, or we meet them with unity, deterrence, and resolve,” she emphasized.
The term “hybrid war” emerged in Western military theory in the 2000s, but it did not become widely used in Europe until after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its subsequent direct support for “separatists” in eastern Ukraine. These Russian actions combined conventional military operations with the use of private military companies, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and economic pressure. Experts noted that Russia uses such tactics to advance its interests while concealing Moscow’s direct involvement.