# Russia tests NATO with hybrid warfare in Europe

> Russia is escalating sabotage operations across Europe and deliberately probing NATO's red lines, raising the stakes for Western support for Ukraine.
- Title: Russia tests NATO with hybrid warfare in Europe · POLITICO
- Summary: Russia is escalating sabotage operations across Europe and deliberately probing NATO's red lines, raising the stakes for Western support for Ukraine. Russia…
- Keywords: russia, nato, ukraine, hybrid warfare, sabotage, germany, carlo masala, friedrich merz, trump, kremlin, politics, world
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/podcast/berlin-playbook-podcast/wie-russland-die-nato-provoziert-mit-carlo-masala
- Published: 2026-10-03T04:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: russia, nato, ukraine, hybrid warfare, sabotage, germany, carlo masala, friedrich merz, trump, kremlin, politics, world
## Russia escalates sabotage across Europe
A drone with explosives targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane in Leipzig. Explosions hit ammunition factories and sabotage struck at sea. Russia is intensifying hybrid warfare and deliberately testing NATO's red lines.
## What if an attack triggers Article Five?
If a Russian attack succeeds on German soil, it could trigger NATO's collective defence clause. Gordon Repinski discusses this scenario with Carlo Masala, Professor for Internationale Politik at Universität der Bundeswehr München.
## Kremlin aims to break Western support
The Kremlin's goal is to spread panic and break Western support for Ukraine. Carlo Masala analyzes why Putin is taking greater risks now and why Friedrich Merz is seen as crucial to continued German aid.
## Collapse of aid would devastate Europe
If Western support for Ukraine collapses, it would have fatal financial and military consequences for the entire continent. The pressure on Kyiv is growing massively as the situation becomes more precarious.
## Trump's return could force painful deals
A possible return of Trump to the White House could force Ukraine into painful deals. The European superwahljahr 2027 offers Moscow an unprecedented chance to shift the political landscape in its favour.
## Key takeaway

Russia is intensifying hybrid warfare across Europe, testing NATO's limits while the Kremlin aims to break Western support for Ukraine and exploit European political divisions.