Europe prepares offensive cyber operations on the biggest Russian war factories

Europe is entering a phase where hybrid pressure from Russia is no longer viewed as an irritant to be endured but as a strategic confrontation that must be actively shaped. After years of operating defensively, governments across the continent are reassessing the balance between restraint and deterrence, concluding that countermeasures must finally match the scale and intent of Russian behavior. This shift reflects a broader understanding that hybrid warfare is not a peripheral domain but a central arena in which European security, economic resilience, and political cohesion are being tested. At stake is whether Europe can impose costs and create uncertainty for Moscow without escalating to open conflict, using tools that exploit digital, informational, and operational vulnerabilities. As this debate intensifies, policymakers are increasingly focused on capabilities that can disrupt Russian decision-making cycles, degrade its hybrid apparatus, and strengthen Ukraine’s strategic position. The emerging consensus is that Europe can no longer afford a reactive posture and must instead adopt a proactive hybrid strategy that shapes the environment rather than merely responds to it.

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