Cyprus is among the EU member states where cyberattacks were recorded that the member states attributed to activities linked to Russia, according to a briefing note on hybrid warfare by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), published on Monday.
According to the EPRS, in July 2026, EU member states condemned Russia’s malicious cyber activities, which involved both state and non-state actors, ranging from intelligence services to cybercriminal groups, cyber activists, and private companies.
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The briefing note states that among the countries where intrusions into government networks or acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure were recorded were Cyprus, France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania, and Finland.
The EPRS notes that cyberspace is increasingly being used as a means of hybrid activities, as cyberattacks can disrupt critical infrastructure and essential services, be used for espionage or information manipulation, and affect military command and communications systems.
Growing Hybrid Threats in Europe
According to the EPRS, the security environment in Europe is becoming more unstable, as a broader spectrum of actions—which remain below the threshold of armed conflict—is being employed, exploiting existing vulnerabilities and placing a financial and operational burden on European defense systems.
The briefing note states that following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, these challenges have taken various forms, including the instrumentalization of migration, airspace violations and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) activities, as well as cyberattacks against public institutions and strategic infrastructure.
The EPRS notes, however, that not every cyberattack, incident involving an unmanned aerial vehicle, or other hostile act automatically constitutes a “hybrid threat.” To classify an action as part of a hybrid campaign, one must examine whether different means are used in a coordinated manner to achieve a strategic objective.
According to the memo, hybrid threats do not necessarily have a military dimension nor do they involve the use of force, while hybrid warfare is situated at the most advanced stage of escalation, where military means may be used to an increasing extent.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Critical Infrastructure
Special mention is made of the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles, with the EPRS reporting that at least 16 NATO members have recorded airspace violations by unmanned aerial vehicles or have detected debris from such systems over the past two years, primarily near military facilities and infrastructure.
According to the EPRS, such incidents can test air defense response times, reveal vulnerabilities around critical infrastructure, disrupt civil aviation, and incur economic costs.
The EU has moved to strengthen both the use of and countermeasures against unmanned systems. The European Defense Initiative against Unmanned Aerial Vehicles is expected to create a multi-layered network of sensors, electronic warfare systems, and unmanned interception systems along the EU’s eastern borders.
According to the briefing note, key radar and other related infrastructure is expected to be deployed by the end of 2026, while the initiative is expected to become operational by the end of 2027.
In October 2026, the European Commission announced an additional 130 million euros through the Border Management and Visa Instrument to fund capabilities for dealing with unmanned aerial vehicles, bringing the total EU funding through the Home Affairs Funds for surveillance technologies and countermeasures against unmanned aerial vehicles to more than 500 million euros.
Source: KYPE
