Why Russia's Campaign Against Europe Is Subversion, Not Hybrid Warfare

Russian operations against European societies should be defined as "subversion" rather than "hybrid warfare," according to an analysis published in Rome on October 4, 2026. The Kremlin aims to divide European societies without triggering open conflict. The article argues that the term "hybrid warfare" is too vague and allows Russian narratives to downplay documented sabotage, cyberattacks, and influence campaigns. Media across the political spectrum in Italy, unlike elsewhere in Europe, has amplified these doubts, conflating territorial invasion with subversive operations. Subversion seeks to weaken European cohesion and support for Ukraine while avoiding open aggression, which would unite targets as seen in Ukraine in 2022. Russian national security strategies explicitly embrace these "below-threshold" mechanisms, making precise terminology essential for public recognition of the threat.