Russia's Hybrid Attacks in Europe Are Growing More Dangerous, 54 Incidents Identified in ...

Compared with earlier influence operations, these attacks increasingly involve physical violence.

The threat to merchant ships has become acute in the Black Sea off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.

The Swedish Armed Forces say Europe must prepare for a prolonged confrontation.

A joint investigation by 17 European public broadcasters shows that physical hybrid attacks linked to Russia have become increasingly frequent and dangerous. Over the past six months, investigators identified 54 incidents, including arson, attempted sabotage, drone attacks and airspace violations.

An investigation conducted jointly by Swedish public broadcaster SVT and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) found that at least 54 physical hybrid attacks or plots took place in Europe between April 1 and October 15, 2026, which authorities or journalists have linked to Russia.

Poland, Romania and Latvia recorded the highest numbers of such incidents.

These cases represent only part of the hostile activity linked to Russia. The tally excludes cyberattacks, influence operations and conventional espionage, as well as incidents that security agencies have not publicly disclosed.

Attacks Are Becoming Increasingly Violent

According to the Helsinki-based European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, Hybrid CoE , the attacks are not only growing in number but also changing in nature. Alongside influence operations, perpetrators are increasingly resorting to physical violence and tactics that could cause casualties.

The center’s director, Teija Tiilikainen, explained that new technologies are being introduced, while established influence and sabotage tactics remain in use. Among the aims of these operations, she said, is to weaken Western support for Ukraine.

Operations linked to Russia have sought to damage infrastructure and have included arson, drone attacks and military provocations along European countries’ borders.

The situation has become particularly dangerous in the Black Sea, where merchant ships have been targeted by drone attacks off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria. According to the EBU, at least two people had been killed and at least 10 were missing following such attacks since the beginning of October.