EU Statement on the Current Issue to be raised by the UK regarding “the Russian Federation’s hybrid activities in the OSCE region”
The European Union remains unwavering and unequivocal in its strong condemnation of the persistent malicious activities posed by Russia. These form part of broader, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its Member States and its partners.
Over the past years, we have observed a deliberate and systematic pattern of malign behaviour attributed to Russia, including its military intelligence service, the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). Russia has waged hybrid campaigns against the EU and its Member States for years, with malicious activities further escalating since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine and highly likely to persist in the foreseeable future. This clearly illustrates continuity of malicious intent and represents a blatant disregard for international law and the United Nations framework of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
Russia’s destabilising hybrid campaigns are not limited to the cyber domain, and also include acts of sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, physical attacks, information manipulation and interference campaigns, instrumentalisation of migrants and other covert or coercive actions. We also condemn the violations of the airspace of several EU Member States by the Russian Federation which threaten the security of EU citizens, regional stability and international peace. We are determined to ensure the defence of all EU land, air and maritime borders and to comprehensively strengthen our defence and security capabilities.
The EU has made use of its sanctions framework to adopt restrictive measures against three GRU units (29155, 26165 and 74455) and multiple individuals linked to the GRU and remains determined to expose and counter Russia’s hybrid activities targeting the EU and its Member States, and, alongside international partners, to support its immediate neighbourhood, particularly Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
On 15 December, the EU adopted new listings against an additional twelve individuals and two entities, in response to Russia’s destabilising actions. These new listings include members of the GRU unit 29155, and of the cyber threat group Cadet Blizzard. With this latest decision, restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities now apply to total 59 individuals and 17 entities.
The EU stands in full solidarity with the United Kingdom as it announced sanctions against the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) in its entirety following the final report of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry.
In line with this firm and consistent stance, the EU will continue to act with determination through a strategic approach towards Russia’s hybrid threats. This ensures a proactive, coherent and sustained response, including through asymmetric and proportionate measures in line with international law. We will continue to strengthen our resilience, deepen cooperation with international partners, in particular with NATO in full respect of the agreed principles and make full use of all available means to prevent, deter, and respond effectively to Russia’s hybrid activities.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.