The five measures that the EU proposes to deal with Russia's hybrid war

BrusselsDrone incursions and threats in NATO territory are no longer a novelty. They are part of a "broader pattern of Russian aggression and provocation against Europe" that puts the continent's "preparedness" and "determination" to the test. This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, after NATO fighter jets shot down a drone launched from Belarus within Lithuanian airspace early this morning. The unmanned aerial vehicle triggered alarms in the capital, Vilnius; meanwhile, Poland has activated its air forces as a preventive measure after recovering what it believes to be a Russian drone in the Baltic. "We are strengthening our collective deterrence and defense, together with NATO. And we are increasing pressure on Russia," the German leader affirmed.

It has not been the only attack the continent has suffered over the last few hours. Off the coast of Denmark, a Russian ship fired flares at a Danish military helicopter; in the Netherlands, an act of sabotage caused railway disruptions that hindered mobility in the country for hours; in Ukraine—just two kilometers from the border with Poland—Moscow launched a missile at a passenger train on Sunday; and Poland has recovered a drone from its waters.

All of this raises a question: is Europe prepared for more attacks like this? EU countries agree that drone threats require a response, but there are divisions over what it should look like. In this context, the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, has presented her thesis to the European Parliament. These are "calculated hybrid attacks" to weaken Europe's resolve, test its unity, and play on the fear of escalation. To address this, she has proposed increasing pressure on the Kremlin with a five-point recipe, which must be combined with the fluid exchange of information between member states' intelligence agencies.

Firstly, she maintains that Russian attacks must be systematically denounced and openly attributed to them, just as Germany did following the attack on Leipzig airport. It is equally important to sanction the instigators forcefully. The third point involves cutting off Russian funding and maintaining sanctions, which have already deprived the Russian economy of a trillion euros. The fourth is to restrict the mobility of people linked to the attacks, for example by limiting the issuance of visas to Russian citizens. Finally, Kallas advocates for shielding the European information space, such as by using artificial intelligence tools to detect disinformation and manipulation. "Putin is a textbook bully," Kallas stated, believing that his goal is to paralyze and frighten the population.

More attacks

The debate has gained momentum following the latest recorded hybrid warfare incidents. In Lithuania, a Belarusian drone was shot down over the town of Pratkunai, in the south-central part of the country, according to emergency services. The route it had followed originated in Belarus heading west, the national radio reported, citing the crisis management center.

The country's authorities were quick to react. The president, Gitanas Nauseda, warned on X that "when Russia intensifies its aggression against Ukraine, it is vital that our region be prepared." For his part, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Kestutis Budrys, expressed gratitude for the support of NATO allies: "With their presence, they protect our skies and strengthen our security." He also highlighted that the action "sends a clear message that NATO is alert, committed, and prepared."

Incursions into the Baltic countries have been escalating for months. In May 2025, a NATO fighter jet shot down a drone over Estonian airspace for the first time, and since then, incidents have multiplied. In 2026, numerous Russian and Ukrainian drones have deviated from their routes and ended up falling in Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, and other countries in the region. The three former Soviet republics—especially Lithuania—are the base of operations for the Russian and Belarusian opposition in exile.

At the same time, Poland recovered an unmanned vehicle on its Baltic Sea coast on Monday, which put its aviation on alert, after a Russian drone impacted a Ukrainian passenger train on Sunday, just 2 km from its border. The attack was launched shortly after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior European security officials had passed through on an earlier train.

Polish authorities explained this Tuesday that they believe it is a Gerbera, a long-range device made of cheap and lightweight materials, which is normally used as a decoy for anti-aircraft defenses, but which can also be equipped to carry explosives. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that NATO countries must prepare for an escalation in Moscow's provocations.

In Denmark, a Russian ship fired two flares at a Danish military helicopter off the south coast this Monday. Although it did not hit the vehicle, one of the flares passed at a short distance from the helicopter, according to what the Danish armed forces announced. "It is part of the pattern we see across Europe," warned the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, after the maritime incident. In her opinion, the response is "to be more united and strengthen the defense of Denmark and Europe."