How Putin has targeted Europe with hybrid attacks through 2026 alone, from airport drone bombs to arson attacks - as EU chief warns 'this is the new normal'

This remarkable graphic reveals the true extent of Russia's shadow war against the West in 2026.As revealed by the Daily Mail, Moscow's attacks have covered the entire continent of Europe, from its fighter jets conducting perilously dangerous passes of RAF aircraft over the Black Sea, to attempted arson attacks and drones invading Nato airspace, the Kremlin is on the march.The tempo of grey zone operations has increased through the year so far while there have been greater attacks in 2026 than in 2025 and 2024.Wisely, Vladimir Putin has ensured none of Russia's actions have crossed the threshold for Nato states to cite Article 5, a move that would prompt allies to muster arms in collective defence.That said, collectively, the campaign of harassment across Europe is considered deeply alarming.Former British Army commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon warned: 'Putin is fighting for his political survival. Russia is building bases specifically to launch drones into Nato territory. 'The assumption that Putin is too committed to Ukraine to contemplate opening another front is clearly wrong.'Russia is stepping up its hybrid war against the West. Britain and her allies are experiencing espionage, sabotage and other malign activities. Much of this activity is never publicised as it is thwarted by our outstanding security services. Police forensic technicians prepare to deploy an explosive-disposal robot near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig-Halle Airport, Germany, August 5, 2026 An explosive-disposal robot deployed near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport, August'The grey zone attacks may be a precursor for a direct attack, perhaps in the Baltics or along the Lithuania-Polish border. While Latvia and Estonia present tempting targets.'Putin may be bluffing. He may neither have the capability nor the appetite for a wider war. But if there is even a chance that he is preparing to test Nato, Europe cannot afford to discover the answer the hard way.'Russia is also becoming more brazen. While a degree of deniability has been retained whenever possible, on occasion Moscow's stunts have been intended as demonstrations of intent and capability, to intimidate the country's neighbours.Most unsettlingly, while Russia appears to have targeted Germany in recent weeks, it is only a matter of time before Putin's agents test Britain's defences, according to security sources.While as the Mail has revealed, there is an eagerness inside the Kremlin to target Andy Burnham and the myriad of British companies producing military equipment for Ukraine.Defence manufacturers have been in the frontline as Russia has launched waves of drone attacks within Germany. UK manufacturers are stepping up their security procedures in advance of similar incidents here.In July this year, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that unidentified drones seen loitering over RAF and US airbases in this country in November 2024 were Russian. The empennages of a DHL cargo plane and Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle Airport in AugustThe Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were seen over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, sparking a major alert.The drones were launched from a Russian intelligence gathering vessel – disguised as a fishing trawler – loitering in the North Sea.Kremlin drones launched into Nato territory in the Baltics and Scandinavia this year were also launched from ships.As the graphic shows, countries such as Romania, Moldova and Poland have been subjected to repeated incursions by Russia, possibly to test the countries' reactions ahead of a larger military attack.Those incidents have become more numerous through 2026 despite diplomatic protests by those countries.While in April this year, two Russian fighter jets harassed a UK intelligence gathering aircraft over the Black Sea in a 'Crazy Ivan' stunt.A Su-27 jet came within 20ft of the RAF Rivet Joint plane, disabling its computer systems.Precise details of the incident remain classified, including how many crew were on board, but all the pilots and analysts would have perished should the Russian and British planes have collided in midair.Presently Germany is in Russia's crosshairs, with its energy infrastructure, airports and factories being targeted.- READ MORE: Putin hybrid war fears renewed as Germany is hit by ANOTHER power grid sabotage after saying Russia was behind airport drone bomb attempt