DonateEU Condemns Russia’s Ongoing Hybrid Threats and Cyberattacks
Persistent Russian Hybrid Campaigns: EU Response Intensifies
The European Union has reiterated its strong and unequivocal condemnation of malicious activities attributed to Russia, framing these actions as part of ongoing, coordinated hybrid campaigns targeting the security, democratic institutions, and resilience of the EU, its Member States, and partners. Over recent years, the EU has observed systematic behavior linked to Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, with a notable escalation following the onset of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Documented Attacks and Escalating Patterns
According to the EU, Russia’s approach involves deliberate, long-term operations encompassing cyberattacks, sabotage, critical infrastructure disruption, information manipulation, interference in electoral processes, and other covert or coercive actions. Last year, the EU attributed significant cyberattacks on democratic institutions in Germany and the Czech Republic to the Russian state-affiliated actor APT28. In 2025, French authorities attributed a series of cyberattacks targeting France’s electoral process, media, and vital public and private entities to the GRU, signaling a continuity of intent and operational sophistication ascribed to Russian agencies.
Hybrid threats attributed to Russia have also recently affected Romania, where Russian involvement was cited in a sophisticated hybrid attack on the country’s electoral process. In Germany, the operations of the Russian-linked media platform “RED” were identified as information manipulation efforts—a continuation of a pattern previously addressed with EU sanctions against this entity.
Coordinated Sanctions and Solidarity Measures
In response, the EU has fortified its alignment with Member States and global partners. The EU has already introduced restrictive measures against several GRU units (including units 29155, 26165, and 74455) and multiple individuals associated with those entities in an effort to increase the costs for Russia’s hostile actions. The bloc recently expressed full solidarity with the United Kingdom following UK-imposed restrictive measures against GRU-led operations and stressed its commitment to exposing and countering Russian hybrid activities that threaten the security of the EU and its partners.
Strategic Outlook: Resilience, Partnerships, and Continued Support for Ukraine
Looking forward, the EU has pledged to sustain a strategic, multi-faceted response to Russian hybrid threats. This response emphasizes:
- Proactive and coherent measures, including asymmetric and proportionate countermeasures in line with international law.
- Ongoing collaboration with international partners, notably NATO, to bolster collective resilience against hybrid operations.
- Reinforced support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, with commitments to deepen assistance, expose malicious behavior, and protect democratic institutions.
Crucially, the EU asserts that Russia’s destabilizing activities will not undermine its unity or diminish its steadfast political, economic, and military support for Ukraine. The European Union remains determined to prevent, deter, and respond effectively to ongoing and future Russian hybrid threats, maintaining a strategic approach and leveraging the full spectrum of available policy and legal tools.
