Cyprus was among the European Union member states that reported cyberattacks attributed to Russia-linked activities, according to a European Parliament research briefing published on Monday.
The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) said EU member states condemned malicious Russian cyber activities in July 2026, involving both state and non-state actors, including intelligence services, cybercriminal groups, hacktivists and private companies.
The briefing listed Cyprus alongside France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania and Finland among countries where intrusions into government networks or acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure had been recorded.
Europe faces growing hybrid threats
The EPRS said Europe’s security environment was becoming increasingly unstable as hostile actors used a broader range of methods that fall below the threshold of armed conflict.
These activities exploit existing vulnerabilities and place additional financial and operational pressure on European defence systems.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, such challenges have taken various forms, including the instrumentalisation of migration, airspace violations, drone activity and cyberattacks targeting public institutions and strategic infrastructure.
However, the briefing stressed that not every cyberattack, drone incident or other hostile act automatically qualifies as a hybrid threat.
To classify an activity as part of a hybrid campaign, authorities must assess whether different methods are being coordinated to achieve a strategic objective.
Hybrid threats do not necessarily have a military dimension or involve the use of force. Hybrid warfare represents a more advanced stage of escalation in which military means may play an increasingly significant role, the EPRS said.
Drone incidents put critical infrastructure at risk
The briefing also highlighted the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.
At least 16 NATO members have recorded airspace violations involving drones or discovered drone debris over the past two years, according to the EPRS. The incidents occurred mainly near military installations and infrastructure.
Such activity can test air defence response times, expose vulnerabilities around critical infrastructure, disrupt civil aviation and generate economic costs.
EU plans expanded drone defence network
The EU is working to strengthen both its use of drone technology and its ability to counter hostile unmanned systems.
The European Drone Defence Initiative is intended to establish a multi-layered network of sensors, electronic warfare systems and interceptor drones along the EU’s eastern borders.
According to the briefing, key radar and related infrastructure is expected to be in place by the end of 2026, with the initiative scheduled to become operational by the end of 2027.
In October 2026, the European Commission announced an additional €130 million through the Border Management and Visa Instrument to support counter-drone capabilities.
This brought total EU funding through its Internal Affairs funds for surveillance and counter-drone technologies to more than €500 million, the briefing said.
The findings underline the growing focus on cyber security, critical infrastructure protection and coordinated European responses to hybrid threats.
Also read: Cyprus to begin forced returns of Syrians
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