The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO’s Alexus Grynkewich, has urged European countries to publicly name Russia as responsible for sabotage and other destabilising actions, Reuters reports.
According to Grynkewich, publicly attributing responsibility for such operations should show their organisers that the activities of Russian networks are being monitored, and also increase the cost of such actions for them.
“Publicly disclosing this link will make the organising states understand that we know what they are doing, and it increases their costs,” the commander said while speaking to Members of the European Parliament.
He also noted that Russia’s activities in Europe are aimed, among other things, at weakening allies’ willingness to continue supporting Ukraine.
In recent months, European countries have reported sabotage, cyberattacks, drone sightings and other incidents they link to Russian activity. The European Parliament has also recorded growing concern over Russian hybrid operations and violations of member states’ airspace.
Grynkewich separately mentioned NATO’s Eastern Sentry operation, launched to strengthen the Alliance’s eastern flank defences. He said that since it began, Russia has become more cautious about using drones near NATO borders.
- The EU is strengthening coordination in response to sabotage, cyberattacks, arson and other hybrid actions that European countries link to Russia. Member states are discussing a joint response mechanism for such attacks, which do not fall under NATO’s Article 5.