In his New Year’s address on Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that not only Germany is under daily attack but that Russia is also targeting the whole of Europe.
“We are seeing more and more clearly that Russia’s aggression was and is part of a plan targeted against the whole of Europe,” Merz said, adding that while Russia’s ongoing aggression is most visible in Ukraine, it represents a broader threat to European security.
Addressing the public in a video message, the chancellor said the war in Ukraine is not distant, noting that “Germany is also facing sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks on a daily basis.”
Europe has seen an increase in sabotage and hybrid attacks since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 2025 saw a new peak with many drone sightings over government and military facilities, military drone incursions over Poland and large-scale airspace violations over the Baltic states.
Holger Münch, president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), said earlier this week that “Germany is increasingly becoming the focus of Russian sabotage” because of its support for Ukraine.
He added that cases involving Russian actors have risen significantly, with a noticeable increase in cyber incidents linked to the Russian state as well as disinformation campaigns.
This year, Germany recorded over 1000 suspicious drones sightings, though not every drone could be attributed to Russia.
The second half of 2025 has seen a wave of disruptions across European airspace, with drone appearances forcing airport closures in multiple countries, including Denmark, Belgium, and Germany. In September, an unprecedented incursion of nineteen Russian drones was recorded in Poland.
(vib)