Kirilo Budanov: Europe is beginning to understand the threat of Russia's hybrid warfare

Kirilo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, warned at the Riga Conference that Russia is expanding its hybrid operations beyond the Baltic states and that European countries are beginning to understand the scale of the threat.

In an interview with Euronews, the Ukrainian official said that Moscow is following a pattern that begins with propaganda and information operations and can escalate to acts of sabotage targeting the defense industry, airfields, and railway infrastructure.

Budanov emphasized that several European countries have recently reported incidents attributed to Russia. Estonia is investigating a fire that broke out at a company in the defense industry, while Germany officially accused Moscow in connection with a drone loaded with explosives discovered at an airport in Leipzig. Berlin also denounced acts of destabilization, disinformation, threats, and sabotage.

A former head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, Budanov said that Kyiv is prepared to share with European countries the experience it has gained in the war with Russia. He argued that this experience could help Europe prevent an escalation and reduce losses if hybrid threats intensify.