2LT International News

STRASBOURG, France: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned this week that a wave of recent drone incursions and other airspace violations across the continent signals Europe is under hybrid attack — and must respond with tools that go beyond traditional military defence.

“This is not random harassment,” von der Leyen told lawmakers during a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. “It is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our Union, and weaken our support for Ukraine. And it is time to call it by its name. This is hybrid warfare.”

While von der Leyen stopped short of directly accusing Moscow of being behind all such actions, she made clear that Russia’s objective is to “sow division” within Europe. European officials have already linked several of the recent drone incidents and airspace violations to Russian activities.

“Tackling Russia’s hybrid war is not only about traditional defence,” von der Leyen continued. “This requires a new mindset for all of us. We can either shy away and watch Russian threats escalate, or we meet them with unity, deterrence, and resolve.”

Her comments come amid growing concern among European governments over unconventional tactics — including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, sabotage, and drone activity — increasingly viewed as part of a coordinated effort to destabilize the European Union and undermine its backing for Ukraine.

Von der Leyen’s remarks mark one of her clearest acknowledgments yet that Europe’s response must evolve from conventional military preparedness to a broader strategy encompassing information resilience, civilian protection, and cross-border coordination.