NATO Official Warns of Rising Threats from Russian Hybrid Attacks
James Appathurai, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Policy Affairs on Innovation and Cyber Technologies, warned of the growing risks posed by Russian hybrid warfare, including sabotage and arson, in an interview with Sky News.
Appathurai emphasized the need for NATO members to agree on what level of “grey zone” activity — unconventional attacks below the threshold of traditional warfare — could trigger a collective Allied response, including military force.
He highlighted the alarming rise in Russian hybrid actions, such as cutting undersea cables, sabotaging buildings, and planting incendiary devices in aircraft cargo, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Appathurai, NATO members have thwarted numerous plots, though dozens have succeeded, with more than 100 known incidents.
He expressed concern that a major hybrid attack could result in significant casualties or economic damage, potentially crossing the threshold for invoking NATO’s Article 5 collective defense clause:
“What really worries me is that one of these attacks... will break out on a large scale. We don’t want to be unprepared for what comes next.”