Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has warned of Russia’s multi-pronged attack on European security, insisting that Europe is already “under attack from Russia.”
In an interview with the DPA news agency in Berlin, Sikorsky outlined a range of hybrid tactics employed by Moscow, including political assassinations, cyberwarfare, sabotage and arson.
Poland, which recently took over from Hungary, currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2025. Poland will host over 300 official meetings over the next six months, including 22 EU informal council meetings. Ministers.
Sikorsky stressed that security will be the main focus during this period. He expressed confidence that the country has demonstrated what it has long warned about the threat posed by Russia, as it faces growing challenges posed by Russia’s aggressive tactics.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is approaching its third anniversarySikorsky pointed to a series of alarming incidents occurring across Europe.
He highlighted the infamous 2019 assassination in Berlin in which a former Chechen commander was allegedly shot dead by Russian agents, along with political murders reported in the UK. He framed these incidents as part of Russia’s broader strategy to destabilize the continent.
Sikorski also cited a series of acts of sabotage in countries including the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Poland, noting a pattern of arson, intimidation and destruction of critical infrastructure.
“Russian attacks on European security have also been carried out online for many years,” Sikorski added. He also cited interference in the Brexit referendum as a key example of Russia’s attempts to manipulate Europe’s political process.
Sikorski warned that events in Romania, where the first round of the presidential election was canceled following the unexpected victory of a pro-Russian candidate, should be seen as a “wake-up call”. Sikorski said someone funded a social media campaign on behalf of the candidate.
The minister also noted that the continued challenge by “armed migrants” on Poland’s eastern borders remains a significant problem, describing the situation as a “hybrid operation devised by Russia and Belarus.”
Russia’s hybrid war against Europe
NATO has consistently said for years that the Kremlin is waging a hybrid war against European countries, a tactic aimed at destabilizing societies through a variety of covert actions such as disinformation campaigns, hacking, cyberattacks, and election interference. I’ve been criticizing it.
These recent actions are aimed at weakening European resolve and encouraging it to reduce military aid to Ukraine. The nature and scope of these attacks is now becoming clearer as patterns of hybrid warfare continue to unfold across the continent.
Western officials have also pointed to Russia’s involvement in a series of arson attacks targeting infrastructure in countries including Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania and Latvia.
Additionally, authorities in Germany and the United States have previously thwarted A Russian plot to assassinate Armin Pappelger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturing company critical to supplying shells to the Ukrainian military.
According to reports, this form of warfare has developed under the leadership of Russian General Valery Gerasimov, who currently serves as the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
Rather than engage in traditional military confrontation, this tactic relies on indirect means of invasion designed to destabilize and cause chaos.
Meanwhile, the EU and NATO countries are looking for ways to fight back, with sanctions being one of the main tools. In October, the EU established a new sanctions framework targeting individuals and entities involved in Russia’s hybrid warfare activities.
This includes targeting those involved in election interference, sabotage, disinformation, cyberattacks, and the use of immigration as a political tool. Sanctions could include asset freezes and travel bans.
NATO also launched Operation Baltic Sea Sentry on January 14 to thwart further attempts to damage critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
In response to a recent increase in suspicious drone sightings, Germany has approved amendments that give the military the power to shoot down drones spotted over critical infrastructure or military installations.
Poland, in particular, has been outspoken about Russian interference. Poland, based on its historical experience of Russian aggression, has strongly advocated a tough European stance against Moscow.
After years of being shunned by Western European politicians, Warsaw now feels vindicated. The invasion of Ukraine has forced a major reassessment of Russia’s role in Europe, leading to policy shifts across the continent.
