Poland has been among the European countries most frequently targeted by hybrid attacks and acts of sabotage linked to the Russian Federation over the past six months, according to a major investigation conducted by Swedish broadcaster SVT and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). This was reported by Polskie Radio.
Working together, journalists from 17 European media organisations documented at least 54 confirmed incidents involving physical sabotage, the planning of acts of sabotage and provocations across European Union member states. Infrastructure in Poland, Romania and the Baltic states was particularly affected.
The investigation covers the period from April to October and includes cases of deliberate arson targeting commercial and government facilities, damage to logistics infrastructure, the use of drones carrying explosives and provocations along national borders.
Experts from the Helsinki-based European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats warn that those responsible are becoming increasingly aggressive, with acts of sabotage posing a direct threat to human life.
According to the experts, the primary objective of these operations is to destabilise the domestic situation in EU countries and disrupt the flow of military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine.
Analysts warn that the systematic escalation of hybrid operations is blurring the distinction between peace and armed conflict, making it increasingly difficult for NATO member states to determine the legal classification of hostile actions.
Repeated attempts at sabotage require the Polish authorities and their NATO allies to significantly strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure and tighten security measures.
In response to the growing threat, European intelligence services are stepping up intelligence-sharing efforts to identify and dismantle sabotage networks before they can carry out attacks.
