In a secret document, the German Ministry of Defense assesses the intensification of Russian hybrid attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure as possible preparation for a broader military conflict with NATO. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing the OPLAN (Operational Plan for Germany) military plan it had obtained.
According to the document, Russia is stepping up covert operations — cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns — against German energy, defense, and logistics facilities. Berlin sees this not just as pressure, but as “a tool deliberately used by Russia in its fight against the collective West,” which “could fundamentally serve as preparation for military confrontation.”
As NATO’s key logistics hub in Europe, Germany expects to be one of the first targets of such attacks. They are aimed at exposing vulnerabilities in the management system, slowing down the response of the authorities, and undermining public confidence. In the event of an escalation into open conflict, Germany could become a priority target for long-range weapons strikes.
Intelligence cited by the Ministry of Defense indicates that Russia aims to acquire the capabilities for a large-scale war against the Alliance by 2029, even while continuing hostilities in Ukraine.
A representative of the ministry confirmed an increase in covert Russian attacks on infrastructure but declined to comment on the details of the secret plan.
This assessment reflects a shift in German defense doctrine following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Previously, hybrid threats were considered secondary, but now they are part of the logic of possible escalation.