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“Now Is the Time to Call Things by Their Name”: Von der Leyen Says Russia Waging Hybrid War on Europe
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![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has accused Russia of conducting hybrid warfare against the EU, pointing to recent drone incursions into European airspace, DW reported on October 8.
“Now is the time to call things by their name. This is hybrid warfare,” von der Leyen said. She cited examples including damage to underwater cables, cyberattacks on airports and logistics centers, and influence campaigns during elections.
“These incidents are designed to stay in the shadows of denial,” she added, noting that they aim to destabilize EU citizens, test the bloc’s resolve, sow division, and weaken support for Ukraine. “Hybrid warfare combines methods—from disinformation to cyberattacks or military actions—intended to weaken an opponent while remaining as invisible as possible.”
“Europe’s core mission is to preserve peace, and today that means having the ability to deter aggression and provocations,” von der Leyen said. “Europe must urgently equip itself with strategic capabilities to respond.”
Von der Leyen also announced she will present a roadmap to strengthen EU capacities by 2030 in nine key areas, including air defense, artillery, and electronic warfare. She mentioned plans to create a “drone wall” to protect NATO’s eastern flank.
“The drone wall is our response to the realities of modern warfare,” she said, referencing a recent incident in Poland where expensive systems were used to shoot down inexpensive, mass-produced drones, calling this “absolutely unacceptable.”
Earlier, it was reported that EU ambassadors have agreed on a plan for the gradual reduction of Russian oil and gas imports, aiming for full implementation by January 2028.
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