Russian forces are penetrating EU and NATO territory using hybrid warfare tactics, including surveillance, airspace violations, and psychological operations, often leveraging digital technology.
A German soldier stationed in Lithuania recently experienced such tactics firsthand. While responding to a cell phone call, he heard his own voice from a conversation that had taken place just a few hours earlier.
“A friend called home, talked for half an hour, and then received a call from an unknown number. When he answered, he heard the conversation he had just had, recorded,” recounted officer Joshua Krebs in his book Inside the German Army.
Krebs described these practices as intimidating and unusual eavesdropping. European armed forces, including Germany’s, continue to face similar hybrid activities on their own soil.
Drones have been used to spy on European defense systems, such as “Heshta 3”, as well as German tank brigade 45 exercises in Lithuania.
Last year, a Russian surveillance aircraft was detected in Belarusian airspace during the German troop exercise “Iron Wolf” in Lithuania.
The Inspector General of the German Army, General Carsten Breuer, described the incident as a real test of threats facing the Baltic state.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also emphasized that hybrid warfare poses a particular concern for Lithuania during his meeting with the Lithuanian counterpart in Berlin in late January.
