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Cyprus is among nine EU member states where cyberattacks or sabotage incidents linked to Russia have been reported, according to a new briefing by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), as European countries face increasing pressure from hostile activities that fall short of open warfare.
The briefing, published on Monday, October 26, says EU member states condemned malicious cyber operations attributed to Russia in July 2026. The activities involved a range of state and non-state actors, including intelligence agencies, cybercriminal networks, hacktivists and private companies.
Cyprus was listed alongside France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania and Finland among the countries that had experienced intrusions into government networks or sabotage targeting critical infrastructure.
The report describes cyberspace as an increasingly important arena for hostile operations. Cyberattacks can interrupt essential public services, compromise strategic infrastructure, facilitate espionage, manipulate information and disrupt military command and communications networks.
Hybrid operations pose a growing challenge
The EPRS briefing points to a deteriorating security climate across Europe, where hostile activities are increasingly being conducted below the threshold of armed conflict. Such operations can exploit vulnerabilities in national systems while imposing financial and operational costs on European defence and security services.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European countries have faced a range of incidents associated with hybrid threats. These include the use of migration as a political tool, violations of national airspace, drone activity and cyber operations targeting public institutions and strategically important facilities.
However, the report cautions against treating every hostile incident as part of a coordinated hybrid campaign. A cyberattack, drone sighting or other hostile act does not automatically qualify. The defining factor is whether different methods are coordinated to achieve a strategic objective.
Hybrid threats can operate without military involvement or the use of force. Hybrid warfare represents a more advanced stage of escalation, in which military capabilities may play an increasingly significant role.
Drone incursions put infrastructure under scrutiny
The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles is another major focus of the briefing. At least 16 NATO member states have reported drone-related airspace violations or discovered debris from unmanned systems over the past two years, frequently near military sites and critical infrastructure.
Such incidents can test the speed and effectiveness of air defence responses, expose security weaknesses around sensitive facilities, disrupt civilian flights and generate significant costs.
The European Union is developing additional capabilities to detect and counter these threats. Its European Drone Defence Initiative is designed to establish a layered defence network along the EU's eastern borders, combining sensors, electronic warfare technology and unmanned interceptor systems.
Key radar installations and related infrastructure are expected to be deployed by the end of 2026, with the initiative scheduled to become operational by the end of 2027.
More than €500 million allocated to counter-drone technology
The European Commission announced an additional €130 million in October 2026 through the Border Management and Visa Instrument to support counter-drone capabilities.
The latest allocation brings total EU funding through its Home Affairs funds for surveillance and counter-drone technologies to more than €500 million.
For Cyprus, the report places the country among EU states facing cyber threats attributed by member states to Russia-linked activity. The briefing also reflects the growing importance of protecting government networks, essential services and strategic infrastructure as European authorities strengthen their defences against cyber operations and other forms of hostile activity.
