Unconventional Russian attack could cause 'substantial' casualties, top NATO official warns
Unconventional Russian attack could cause 'substantial' casualties, top NATO official warns
Share:
There is a "real prospect" an unconventional attack by Russia against NATO - such as an act of sabotage or arson - will cause "substantial" casualties, a top alliance official has told Sky News. James Appathurai, who is updating a NATO strategy to track and deter so-called hybrid warfare, said allies must be clearer among themselves and with Moscow about what level of grey zone hostilities could trigger an allied response, including the use of military force.
He said NATO's 32 member states were already in a "boiling frog" situation, with suspected Russian hybrid attacks across Europe, the United States and Canada creeping up to a volume that would have been "utterly unacceptable" five years ago. There had been a particular rise in more "kinetic" acts - like cutting vital undersea cables, sabotage against buildings and the planting of incendiary devices inside aircraft cargo - since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"We can definitely count dozens. Up to 100 for sure. But then there's a lot of foiled plots," Mr Appathurai, NATO's deputy assistant secretary general for innovation, hybrid and cyber, told Sky News in an interview at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels.
He said the increase in attacks was a response by the Kremlin to Western military support to Ukraine as well as a belief that the West is anti-Russia - something the official said was not true - and is trying to constrain Moscow from attacking its neighbours. "That part's true. So they don't like what we're doing, but also they see us as an enemy. And that's getting worse.".
Share:
More for You
Top Followed
You Might Also Like
