The increase in Russia's hybrid attacks on NATO countries has raised serious concerns for this military alliance. A senior NATO official in Brussels announced that over 200 of these attacks were recorded in the past year, excluding daily cyber attacks.
Details of the Attacks and Concerns
According to this official, NATO's headquarters faces thousands of cyber attacks every month. One significant case involved the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, indicating direct involvement of a Russian intelligence service in this incident. The official noted that the type of explosives found reflects the seriousness of these attacks and the likelihood of careful planning by Russia.
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Analysis of the Situation and NATO's Actions
NATO, like the German government, considers this incident a hybrid attack, even if the explosive device did not detonate. According to this official, Russia is attempting to undermine political and practical support for Ukraine and prepare for a potential escalation. This includes identifying critical infrastructure and logistical chains as well as pre-positioning malware in important industrial control systems.
NATO is concerned about changes in the nature of these attacks, and the official added that "the number of attacks is increasing, their intensity has grown, and the willingness to take risks has also increased." NATO is working to enhance its deterrence through military measures and better protection of critical infrastructure.
In more serious cases, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander may request member countries to deploy offensive cyber capabilities. This reflects NATO's seriousness in facing threats and preparing for effective responses to hybrid attacks.
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