NATO Officials Confront Russian Hybrid Attacks and Kaliningrad Threats

NATO’s top military commander in Europe urged European governments to publicly attribute sabotage and other hybrid attacks to Russia, as tensions intensified over Moscow’s activities and threats involving its Kaliningrad exclave.

Speaking to European Union lawmakers on September 28, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich called on countries to condemn Russian operations and strengthen support for Ukraine. He said NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission had reduced Russian drone incursions in the Baltic states and Poland.

Russia’s embassy in Belgium, which manages Moscow’s diplomatic contacts with NATO, separately warned that an attempt to isolate Kaliningrad from mainland Russia could lead to a direct military confrontation. According to a statement reported by TASS, the embassy said Russia was prepared to use its available arsenal to repel what it regarded as aggression. Kaliningrad lies on the Baltic Sea between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte dismissed the threat as not credible on September 30, while saying the alliance had responded clearly to Moscow. He described NATO as defensive and urged Russia to stop issuing nuclear threats and end its war in Ukraine. Rutte also said Moscow was using hybrid operations and threats to divide NATO members and distract them from supporting Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed regret over the removal of two Russian oligarchs from the bloc’s sanctions list, while Lithuania and Sweden called for greater pressure on Moscow. The EU was preparing another sanctions package for October 12.