The German Defense Minister warned about the threats posed by Russia's hybrid attacks.

As Pistorius pointed out, Russian President Vladimir Putin has a deep understanding of Germany and knows where to strike, as the country falls within his sphere of interest. The German Minister of Defense cited energy supply and particularly vulnerable infrastructure in the waters of the North and Baltic Seas as potential targets for attacks.

German companies involved in wind energy production see an increasing threat from hybrid warfare, calling for the protection of their offshore installations. Recently, industry representatives proposed more intensive patrolling of the waters to prevent sabotage and espionage. Stefan Timm, managing director of the Offshore Wind Energy Association, endorsed Poland's proposal for a special mission in the Baltic Sea. He stated to the dpa agency that patrols should be conducted by government authorities, as private companies cannot manage this on their own.

In an interview, Boris Pistorius also highlighted forms of hybrid warfare such as violations of airspace, referring to the potential unauthorized intrusion of drones. The minister mentioned information campaigns on social media and the impact on electoral processes, which Russia may employ to influence public opinion. Additionally, he classified the financing of populist parties like "Alternative for Germany" and "The Alliance of Sarah Wagenknecht" as methods of hybrid warfare.

Russia has repeatedly denied accusations from Western countries regarding attempts to influence the course and outcomes of various electoral campaigns.

Pistorius emphasized the necessity of arming oneself to counter possible attacks. "We must be prepared to confidently confront the Putin threat. If we ignore the threat because it is inconvenient for us, it will not diminish but rather increase," he concluded.

• In recent months, authorities in Western countries have repeatedly expressed assessments that a number of crimes in Europe, including arson of factories and critical infrastructure, as well as physical assaults, are linked to agents funded by Russia. Moscow, which continues its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, denies these accusations.