European security officials warn of escalating Russian hybrid threats

European defense officials and security experts warn that Russia's hybrid warfare campaign is intensifying across the continent. Following the discovery of armed drones at Leipzig airport in Germany, investigators suspect broader attack plans targeting critical infrastructure.

Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur warned that upcoming elections in Sweden and other Baltic Sea nations face a heightened risk of Russian influence operations. Concurrently, Sweden's military leadership urged readiness against potential Russian attempts to test NATO unity through direct European targets.

Beyond hybrid operations, Ukrainian forces launched long-range drone strikes hitting oil refineries in Russia's Bashkiria and Yaroslavl regions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the strikes successful, whereas Russian officials sought to minimize their impact.

Sources: Dagens Industri, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, SVT, Sydsvenskan