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🇳🇴 Norway /Conflict & Security

Expert on Russia Threat: “We Must Keep Our Heads Cool”

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • German and Danish authorities have attributed or linked recent drone, explosives and alleged sabotage incidents to Russian activity, amid warnings about hybrid operations in Europe.
  • Norway’s intelligence and security services have warned that Russia uses espionage, sabotage and influence operations against European supporters of Ukraine.
  • Fridtjof Nansen Institute director Iver B. Neumann says invoking NATO’s Article 5 over hybrid attacks could trigger a dangerous escalation, potentially leading to war.

Russia has been accused for years of waging hybrid warfare in Europe, but a series of recent incidents is raising questions about whether the campaign is intensifying. Iver B. Neumann, director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, says the response must remain measured.

We must keep our heads cool.

· Iver B. NeumannThe Fridtjof Nansen Institute director urged restraint in responding to alleged Russian hybrid attacks.

German police said Russia was behind the discovery of drones and explosives at Leipzig airport last month. Danish police said this month that they had uncovered what they described as concrete Russian sabotage plans targeting the Danish defense industry. Both incidents have been viewed as part of Russia’s hybrid warfare against European countries supporting Ukraine.

That the Russians are behind such hybrid attacks in Europe is not surprising. We have known this for a long time.

· Iver B. NeumannHe said the existence of the alleged attacks was less important than how Europe responds.

Norway’s Intelligence Service has warned about Russia’s expanding use of covert methods against Ukraine’s Western supporters. Its 2025 public risk assessment said Russia was increasingly conducting concealed operations in Europe through proxies acting for Russian state actors. The latest assessment lists espionage, sabotage and influence operations, and says Russian intelligence and security services play a central role. Norway’s Police Security Service has also warned of possible Russian sabotage against targets in Norway, intended to create unrest and pressure countries’ ability and willingness to support Ukraine.

The question is what we choose to call this and how we respond.

· Iver B. NeumannHe focused on the consequences of labeling and responding to hybrid operations.

Some officials have called for a tougher European response. NATO leaders have said hybrid operations can reach a level equivalent to an armed attack, potentially making Article 5 applicable. Neumann, however, warns that activating the collective-defense clause would be premature and could set off a spiral. “We must keep our heads cool,” he said, arguing that the key question is how Europe labels the incidents and chooses to respond. Germany’s public accusation over Leipzig, he said, means its authorities must now act, while Russia’s denial could provoke a response to Germany’s next move. “This is a classic spiral,” Neumann said.

This is a classic spiral.

· Iver B. NeumannHe described the cycle that could follow accusations, denials and retaliatory measures.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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