Russia's hybrid attacks throughout Europe are becoming more dangerous

"Whether it's shutting down airports with drones or attacks on infrastructure, Russia's hybrid warfare against Europe has increased sharply since the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago. Military experts say Russia is operating in a gray zone to undermine support for Ukraine. And as NPR's Rob Schmitz reports, the attacks throughout Europe are becoming more dangerous."

"(SOUNDBITE OF WALKING THROUGH SNOW) PIOTR POKORSKI: (Speaking Polish). ROB SCHMITZ, BYLINE: When I ask him to take me to the latest Russian act of sabotage on Polish soil, police officer Piotr Pokorski (ph) leads me through the snow across a frozen farm field... (SOUNDBITE OF WALKING THROUGH SNOW) SCHMITZ: ...Through a thatch of dead cattails... (SOUNDBITE OF WALKING ACROSS ICE) SCHMITZ: ...And across a frozen creek before he stops underneath an embankment and points. Above us, a foot-long section of railroad track catches the frozen sunlight, reflecting a bronze-colored sheen. POKORSKI: (Speaking Polish). SCHMITZ: "The explosion happened here," he says, "and this section of track was damaged, but not significant enough to derail the trains along this track. A train engineer noticed it just in time to stop his train, and then he reported it to us. Fortunately, nobody was injured.""

"Thousands of people ride on passenger trains along this line every day, and so does military aid traveling from Warsaw to Ukraine. In the days following the November attack, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the country's security services identified two Ukrainian suspects believed to be hired by Russia. Tusk said they escaped to neighboring Belarus immediately after the attack."

Russia has escalated hybrid warfare across Europe since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago. Attacks include drone shutdowns of airports, sabotage of railway lines, and strikes on infrastructure that support civilian transit and military aid. Sabotage incidents have endangered passenger trains and supply routes between NATO countries and Ukraine. Intelligence and security services in affected countries have linked some attacks to actors believed to be working for or hired by Russian interests. The attacks aim to operate in a gray zone below open war to sow fear, disrupt logistics, and weaken public support for Ukraine. Risk to civilians and critical infrastructure continues to rise.

Read at www.npr.org