Cybersecurity: Europe’s New Battlefield

From Estonia to Ukraine – how hybrid attacks are reshaping the continent’s security

We are living in times where countries are not only attacked on land, in the air and at  sea but also online, in places that are not always visible to the society. From an underestimated threat to a key issue that many countries have to deal with, hybrid attacks became one of the main weapons during military conflicts. People's fear of Europe's weakening security is mainly caused by these hybrid attacks. Yet the reason we lack confidence in our continent is precisely its vulnerability caused by our dependence on the rest of the world. The fact we have the support of organisations like NATO and countries like the USA is reassuring, but we need to depend on ourselves more when it comes to security and defence. Speaking as an Eastern European, I believe we live on one of the most developed continents in the world. Our long history has shown what we are capable of, and now it’s not the time to stop believing in ourselves.

The First Cyber War: Estonia, 2007

Let’s dive deep into the context of cyberattacks and how they influence global politics. The turning point in Europe’s understanding of cyber threats came in 2007, when Estonia faced a massive hybrid attack that paralysed banks, media and government institutions. Often it is described as the first “cyber war” and it showed the world how vulnerable institutions like NATO were to state-sponsored digital assaults. This led to the creation of NATO’s Cyber Defence Center, after allegedly Russia punished Estonia for moving a Soviet monument, causing weeks of disorder.

Targeting Germany’s Democracy

Years after the first “cyber war”, Germany was also directly targeted. In 2015, hackers linked to Russia infiltrated the German Bundestag, stealing sensitive data, such as email correspondences, including those of high-ranking deputies like Angela Merkel. The attack was intended to be espionage, aiming to steal political information following the events of the annexation of Crimea. The result was the theft of more than 16GB of data, forcing the government to rebuild its IT infrastructure from scratch and severely deteriorating diplomatic relations between Russia and Germany. This serious event led the EU and NATO to begin viewing cyberattacks as a threat to national security, rather than simply as crimes.

NotPetya and the Cost of Global Cyber War

The next big step of the world’s hybrid warfare timeline was the 2017 NotPetya malware. It struck Ukraine, right before their national holiday. The attack was masked as ransomware, but it was originally created to destroy and not restore data. Western governments accused Russia, or more precisely the GRU, of being behind the attack. The goal was believed to be the destabilization of Ukraine in the context of the conflict following the annexation of Crimea. What began as a strike on Ukrainian infrastructure quickly spread across Europe, crippling companies such as Maersk, FedEx, Merck and many others, causing global losses valued at over 10 billion dollars. This is proof that cyber threats in Europe cannot be contained within national borders because they are inherently transnational.

Ukraine 2022: When War Goes Online

This brings us to February 2022. Hours before Russia’s strike on Ukrainian territory, they were not only preparing to fight on land but also online, attempting to sabotage government websites. They used the so-called wiper malware, through which they not only stole data but destroyed computers which made the operating systems unusable. This affected hundreds of machines in government institutions and organisations. On February 24, shortly before the first missiles, Ukraine lost contact with a key satellite system for internet access and communications. It was later determined that this was the result of a Russian cyberattack aimed at disrupting the communications of the Ukrainian army. This demonstrates exactly how hybrid attacks can accompany and amplify major disasters as this so-called "military operation".

Europe’s Challenge Today

And now, after looking at the history of cyber threats and attacks let’s see what is happening nowadays. Is there progress? And what do we actually call progress? Is it progress that the technology is becoming more and more advanced, capable of causing national security disasters within hours? Or is it progress that we still use rapid technological development for nefarious purposes. In some aspects, we as a society have failed, we failed not because we cannot upgrade the things we create, but because we cannot change  the goals we want to pursue with them. In an era of constant development, with the creation of new technologies and even artificial intelligence we have every opportunity to use it in the name of human welfare. Yet sometimes, some people choose not to.

Europe's weaknesses include fragmentation, disunity in society, lack of a rapid mechanism for a common response, and reliance on NATO and the US in the event of a possible conflict. These are the main obstacles that are causing us back from the moment we have the confidence that we are a united, well-oiled machine that can defend itself. The steps we need to take are clear. First of all, Europe must establish a truly cyber defence structure that is capable of responding quickly across borders. Secondly, it must seriously invest in quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and resilient infrastructure to avoid falling behind global adversaries. And last but not least, Europe should strengthen its society through education, digital literacy and building trust in the democratic institutions and processes.

Beyond Borders: Protecting Europe’s Truth

In conclusion I must say, Europe’s security will continue to be tested not only on the battlefield but in cyberspace too. Hybrid attacks are not limited to cyber operations only, because they can also take the form of propaganda and disinformation, which I have witnessed firsthand in Bulgaria through the years. That keeps reminding us that Europe’s security it’s not only defending our borders but also protecting our truth. That shows how if Europe invests more in innovation and strengthening its resilience it can become a true leader in the digital age. After all, in an era where rumours are spreading faster than missile strikes, the courage to protect the truth is going to be Europe’s most powerful weapon.