Putin is waging a so-called shadow war (Image: Getty / Commission on security and cooperation in Europe)
A new map has shown “shadow war” being fought on NATO territory including in the , and the .
by the US Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, describes how has been orchestrating on the west critical infrastructure attacks, violence campaigns, weaponized migration, and election interference and information campaigns.
To “visualise the breadth of the Kremlin’s efforts”, officials have nearly 150 hybrid operations it says have been executed in NATO territory.
These have occurred since the outset of ’s invasion of , and have been attributed to or suspected of .
The document states: “Since the outset of ’s full-scale invasion of , Russian sabotage campaigns across North America and Europe have accelerated.
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Russia invaded Ukraine in February, 2022 (Image: Getty)
“Calculated campaigns of hybrid warfare show that ’s antagonistic foreign policy knows no bounds.
“In conjunction with its war in , is simultaneously executing a shadow war on NATO to destabilize, distress, and deter the transatlantic alliance from its staunch support of Ukrainian sovereignty.”
It adds: “The efficacy of ’s active measures inside of NATO stems from its nature as a “below the threshold of war” means of attack.
“However, the escalation of ’s recent hybrid campaigns represent more than mere capers of destabilization. Rather, is engaged in calculated posturing toward the transatlantic alliance to pair with its genocidal invasion of .
“Hybrid campaigns can range from cyberattacks on train stations that cause scheduling delays to attempted assassination and terrorism plots; a deniable, one-off incident does not make a war in and of itself, but the scale and calculated nature of Russian hybrid threats within NATO borders since 2022 amount to a covert shadow war.”
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It is thought that Putin has organised hostile actions against NATO countries (Image: Getty)
The report built on the Helsinki Commission’s September 2024 hearing , in which experts described the “widespread and calculated” efforts Moscow deploys in order to “destabilise its democratic adversaries” across the Atlantic.
Officials add: “It is critical that NATO leaders are united in their recognition of the intent and extent of ’s hybrid operations. Hybrid warfare efforts present real threats to society and democratic governance.
“NATO was founded to counter Russian aggression, and ’s ongoing attempts to undermine the security and stability of members of the alliance must be recognized as an affront to the foundations and core mission of the alliance.”