NATO's top Europe commander says alliance boosting intelligence sharing in response to Russia-linked sabotage
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Alexus Grinkevich, told Reuters the alliance is stepping up intelligence sharing in response to a wave of sabotage and hybrid incidents likely linked to Russia. He called for calm, said a limited Russian attack on NATO territory is "unlikely but cannot be ruled out," and warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin against testing the alliance.
Key points
- NATO is enhancing intelligence-sharing in response to a wave of sabotage and other incidents likely linked to Russia, Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grinkevich said.
- Grinkevich gave the statements in an interview with Reuters.
- He assessed the risk of a limited Russian attack on NATO territory as "improbable, but cannot be ruled out."
- Grinkevich dismissed the assumption that Vladimir Putin could see an opportunity to strike NATO because the US has spent a significant portion of its long-range precision missile stockpiles in a war with Iran.
- He said NATO has the capability to defend every centimetre of member states' territory and that he has the authority to take measures to deter aggression against the alliance.
- He described the rise in hybrid attacks on the continent, including a drone attack attempt on Germany's Leipzig/Halle airport, as "concerning."
- Around 80,000 US military personnel are deployed in Europe; no final decision has been made on changing their numbers or redeployment.
Why it matters
A senior NATO military commander has publicly framed Russia-linked sabotage as a wave of hybrid attacks demanding a stronger allied response, placing the issue at the centre of the alliance's security agenda. By linking the threat to the war in Ukraine and stressing continued European support for Kyiv, Grinkevich ties the hybrid campaign directly to the broader Russia–Ukraine confrontation. The comments also touch on questions of US military capacity in Europe and the extent to which European allies are taking on more responsibility within the alliance.
What happened
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Alexus Grinkevich, said in a Reuters interview that NATO allies have increased intelligence sharing in response to a wave of sabotage and other incidents likely linked to Russia. He described the rise in hybrid attacks on the continent as "concerning," pointing to incidents including a drone attack attempt on Germany's Leipzig/Halle airport and a Russian ship firing signal flares at a Danish military helicopter. Grinkevich assessed the risk of a limited Russian attack on NATO territory as "improbable, but cannot be ruled out," and dismissed the idea that Russian leader Vladimir Putin might see an opportunity to strike NATO because the United States has used a significant portion of its long-range precision missile stockpiles in a war with Iran. He said NATO has the capability to defend every centimetre of allied territory and that he has the authority to take measures to deter any aggression against the alliance.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All three supplied source articles are Ukrainian-language outlets, so the framing here reflects how the story is being presented in the Ukrainian media: as a top NATO military commander publicly acknowledging a wave of Russian-linked hybrid attacks and tying the response to continued support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's remark that nothing should distract European leaders from supporting Ukraine amid Russian strikes on energy infrastructure is presented alongside the Grinkevich interview, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's warning of Russian "plans for hybrid strikes" against countries that back Ukraine is used to reinforce the same picture.
Background
Danish intelligence has warned that Russia is likely to intensify hybrid warfare against Western countries in the coming months, with more serious consequences than before, and noted a low but growing risk of a limited military attack by Moscow on NATO countries bordering Russia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said intelligence indicated Russian "plans for hybrid strikes" against countries supporting Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said nothing should distract European leaders from supporting Ukraine amid Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Russia has traditionally denied involvement in sabotage or preparations for conflict. The NATO Joint Force Command in Norfolk, responsible for the Arctic, Northern Europe and Atlantic routes, is now led by a British general rather than an American vice admiral, and around 80,000 US military personnel are deployed in Europe, with no final decision on changes to their numbers or redeployment.