NATO Chief Urges Calm Amid Warnings of Increased Russian Hybrid Attacks

NATO is prepared to counter sabotage and drone incidents across Europe, with robust action plans in place, according to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. His remarks came as Denmark's Defense Intelligence Service issued a warning that Russia is expected to intensify its hybrid warfare tactics against Western nations and NATO.

Rutte suggested that the uptick in hybrid incidents across NATO countries indicates Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing difficulties in the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. He emphasized that the most effective response is to provide further military aid to Ukraine. "All the response options are there, and we will use whatever we need," Rutte stated during a ceremony in New York commemorating the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

He reassured citizens of the 32 NATO member states, stating, "Putin is in a bad place. He is not winning the war in Ukraine."

The Danish intelligence report detailed that Russia is likely to increase its hybrid campaign—a strategy involving non-conventional hostile acts such as sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation—to exert pressure on adversaries. The agency warned, "This could include destructive cyberattacks that cripple critical societal functions as well as sabotage attacks that carry a high risk of casualties." The report noted, "Russia has become more willing to take risks."

Hybrid attacks are designed to destabilize countries, test defenses, strain resources, or influence public opinion, often in ways that obscure responsibility. An Associated Press analysis shows a significant increase in such incidents, rising from 59 in March 2025 to over 200 currently.

Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had cautioned that Russia was planning hybrid strikes, potentially involving drones or rockets, targeting European nations supporting Ukraine, including Poland. He suggested Russia might attempt to portray these attacks as accidental to undermine the resolve of NATO countries to defend a member under assault.

The Danish agency also identified a "low but growing risk" of a limited military attack by Russia against one or more NATO countries bordering Russia, potentially occurring in the coming months. The objective, it noted, would be to divert European resources from Ukraine and foster divisions within NATO. However, the report clarified there are "no indications that Russia will launch an outright invasion of one or several NATO countries."

Officials from NATO and the European Union have stated that Russia's military forces are largely engaged in Ukraine, and no unusual military buildup has been observed near European countries adjacent to Russia. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker commented that the current volume of incidents does not signal an imminent conflict. "We haven’t reached that threshold," Whitaker said, cautioning against overreaction to hybrid activities.