Russia’s Hybrid War Intensifies against Europe.
By Sebastian Wright, 2026-27 duPont Fellow
In 2023 CBS News was awarded the Silver Baton for its four-part series, “60 Minutes: National Security in the Information Age.” The series highlighted Russia's intent to disrupt and attack Western infrastructure. Since then Russia’s campaigns have only increased.
At a meeting of EU defense ministers on September 28th, Estonia's Defense Minister, Martin Herem, warned that "the Russian special forces are conducting sabotage acts" across Europe, Euronews reported. The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said these attacks are designed to divide European communities and intimidate them into withdrawing support for Ukraine.
On September 1st, the German government officially blamed Russia for an explosive drone found in Leipzig airport. This marked one of Russia’s most aggressive maneuvers against a NATO country. Drone incursions into NATO airspace are becoming more common. In August a Russian drone was shot down over Romania.
These attacks are a part of Russia's usual tactics of deniability as seen in another 2023 winner, “Navalny,” where the Russian state attempted to assassinate Alexander Navalny using similar low-level operatives in order to maintain deniability. Navalny was a domestic opposition figure; however, the same tactics are used by the Russian state to attack foreign foes.
Europe has kept its response mainly to economic sanctions. NATO’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, asserted “We are looking at ways to cut even deeper into Russia’s war chest.” Europe is coming to terms with its neighbors' more open aggression.
To better understand the shifting relationship between Russia and the West, here's how to watch past Silver Baton winners:
60 Minutes: National Security in the Information Age - CBS News