Former NATO commander warns Russia is conducting hybrid war against alliance
Retired General Curtis Scaparrotti said Moscow's hybrid activities seek to weaken NATO countries and their public confidence.
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Curtis Scaparrotti warned that Russia's hybrid operations against NATO members should be understood as part of Moscow's broader conception of warfare, according to Press Association reporting carried by several British outlets.
Speaking at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, the retired US general said the Kremlin seeks to undermine member states' ability to defend themselves and weaken public confidence in their governments and NATO.
Scaparrotti said cyberattacks, sabotage and other actions below the threshold of conventional military attacks could form part of a long-term strategy. His assessment did not amount to an announcement that NATO had formally entered a conventional war with Russia.
He urged governments to protect critical infrastructure and treat as sustained rather than isolated incidents.
The comments came as NATO members discussed assistance to Ukraine and security risks linked to Russia. The interview did not identify a new specific attack, casualty figure or military deployment.
Follow this story
An email when there is a real update (a new toll, a cause, an arrest). Nothing else; stop with one click.
Free: one story at a time. Members follow as many stories as they like.
What we know
- Scaparrotti spoke at an Atlantic Council event.
- He warned about Russia's hybrid threats to NATO countries.
- He called for protecting critical infrastructure.
Not yet confirmed
- Future operational consequences of the warnings.
Why it matters for Europe
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Curtis Scaparrotti warned that Russia's hybrid operations against NATO members should be understood as part of Moscow's broader conception of warfare, according to Press Association reporting carried by several British outlets.
Sources
Reported by 2 reports from 4 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- Belfast Telegraph: Russia is at war with Nato ‘today’, says former top military commander
- Evening Standard: Russia is at war with Nato ‘today’, says former top military commander
- The Irish News: Russia is at war with Nato ‘today’, says former top military commander
- Daily Mirror: Ex-Nato chief warns 'Russia at war with Nato today' amid Ukraine tensions
Source balance
PremiumSee how the 4 outlets behind this story spread from left to right, and which are official or OSINT sources.
Free during the launch: create an account →Log inHow we rate sources
Intelligence file
PremiumSee how we verified this story
Confidence and impact scores, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Launch offer: free for members until 31 October 2026
Questions and answers
- What happened?
- Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Curtis Scaparrotti warned that Russia's hybrid operations against NATO members should be understood as part of Moscow's broader conception of warfare, according to Press Association reporting carried by several British outlets.
- What is confirmed?
- Scaparrotti spoke at an Atlantic Council event.
- What is still open?
- Future operational consequences of the warnings.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.