Russia ramps up hybrid war in Europe

Berlin’s accusation that Russia orchestrated an explosives-laden drone attack on Leipzig airport comes as Moscow steps up its hybrid warfare across Western Europe, particularly in Germany

DRONE INCURSIONS IN EUROPE
Aug 1, 2024-Aug 17, 2026, selected

Near airports and military sites
Energy and industrial sites
Other sites
NATO member

UKRAINE
RUSSIA
GERMANY
NORWAY
SWEDEN
FINLAND
ESTONIA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
POLAND
ROMANIA
CZECHIA
MOLDOVA
UK
IRELAND
FRANCE
SPAIN

Aug 4-5, 2026,
Leipzig/Halle airport
Drone carrying explosives found near Ukrainian cargo plane. Second suspected drone collides with DHL cargo plane

SUSPECTED RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN WESTERN EUROPE SINCE 2022
Includes acts of sabotage on critical infrastructure or surveillance of military sites with drones

Germany
Other countries

35
28
1
1
11
47
28
18
22
11

0
20
40
60
80
100

2025
2024
2023
2022
2026

2026: As of Sep 2, 2026

Sources: European Council on Foreign Relations, ACLED
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