Russia's hybrid warfare heightens threat to Baltic NATO members

Russia is conducting a coordinated hybrid campaign aimed at destabilising the Baltic states and testing NATO’s credibility. The documentary "Operation Matryoshka" documents the use of propaganda, disinformation, cyber‑attacks and covert influence operations targeting communities along the EU’s eastern border.

In addition to information warfare, Russian electronic‑warfare capabilities are being employed to interfere with NATO airspace. Incidents reported include a mis‑directed explosive‑filled drone over Estonia on May 19, a GPS‑spoofing breach that allowed a Ukrainian drone to enter Lithuanian airspace on March 23, and suspected spoofed drones prompting indoor‑stay warnings in Helsinki on May 15. Russian officials deny involvement, but Ukrainian authorities attribute the breaches to sophisticated spoofing, jamming and meaconing techniques.

These actions are portrayed as the opening phase of a broader strategy to weaken resistance in the region and pressure NATO before any overt military aggression.