European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has issued a strong warning over escalating “gray-zone attacks” attributed to Russia, saying that Europe must bolster its defenses against hybrid warfare. In her remarks reported by AP News, von der Leyen said Russia has intensified operations “below the threshold of conventional war,” citing airspace violations, cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns targeting European infrastructure and public trust.
“These are not random acts — they are part of a deliberate strategy to weaken our unity and destabilize our democracies,” von der Leyen stated on Wednesday, October 8, during a security forum in Brussels. The term “gray-zone” refers to covert and hybrid tactics that fall short of open conflict, yet aim to undermine political and economic stability. According to EU security officials, at least 12 cyber incidents and several drone incursions linked to Russian actors were recorded in the past two months.
The European Commission has called for a comprehensive hybrid defense strategy, urging all member states to coordinate responses more tightly. A new proposal — outlined in a draft circulated on October 7 — recommends tougher anti-drone measures, enhanced cyber defense cooperation, and stricter oversight of foreign investments in critical sectors like energy, transport, and communication. “Our security can no longer rely only on traditional borders,” von der Leyen emphasized, adding that “cyber borders, energy security, and resilience against disinformation are the new front lines.”
Reuters reported that the initiative is part of a broader EU plan to integrate civilian, digital, and military defenses against hybrid threats. The Commission also plans to establish a European Hybrid Defense Coordination Centre by early 2026, aimed at supporting cross-border investigations and information sharing. The move follows several acts of sabotage against undersea cables and rail infrastructure in Poland, Finland, and the Baltic region, which European intelligence agencies have linked to Russian-backed operatives.
Officials across the EU have voiced support for the plan. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said his country has been “on the front line of hybrid aggression for years,” and welcomed Brussels’ leadership. Similarly, Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda called for “a unified European stance that matches the seriousness of the threat.” Both leaders underscored the need to strengthen NATO–EU coordination, especially in regions bordering Russia and Belarus.
Analysts describe this as one of the most serious hybrid security alerts in Europe since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. Political scientist Clara Becker of the Berlin Institute for Strategic Studies noted, “Europe is entering a new era where warfare is not declared but experienced daily through energy blackmail, digital intrusion, and propaganda.” The EU’s response, she added, marks a decisive step toward treating hybrid resilience as a core pillar of continental defense policy.
