The (not so) silent war: Russia’s hybrid warfare operations and the threats to Western democracy

Scanning Russia’s geopolitical maneuvers: From the Kremlin’s covert operations to
aerial terror against Ukrainian civilians – in a world where bullets are often replaced by lies, deception, and strategic coercion, the West must reckon with the cost of decades-long appeasement and act before it’s too late.

The West must acknowledge an undeniable reality, especially in times when it seems to be losing its footing: a country or alliance can be destabilized – or even defeated – without a single shot being fired. History has proven this time and again. Now, with Trump at the helm in the Oval Office, the Kremlin appears to be gaining the upper hand – while his ship drifts aimlessly, having lost its compass.

This claim is often attributed to Nikita Khrushchev, the belligerent and volatile leader of the USSR from 1953 to 1964, who allegedly declared: “We will take America without firing a shot. We do not have to invade the U.S. We will destroy you from within.” While this quote has been widely disputed – including in a detailed 1962 CIA report – the disturbing reality is that Russia now seems to have infiltrated America from within the White House itself. This strategy of subversion over brute force is hardly new; it closely resembles the teachings of Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military strategist from the 6^th century BC, who emphasized victory through deception, disruption, and psychological warfare rather than open conflict.

Ironically, it was the Soviet Union that collapsed first, ending a brutal era of dictatorship and hegemonism over large parts of Europe and Asia. However, its successor, the Russian Federation, has not forgotten that defeat. For decades, it has been attempting to strike back – not always through direct military confrontation, but through hybrid warfare, disinformation, cyberattacks, and political subversion.

Vladimir Putin has made it clear in 2005 that he views the Soviet collapse as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” His regime has ruthlessly worked to reverse the history, using Soviet-style tactics in modernized forms. The Kremlin’s playbook includes weaponizing economic dependencies – such as gas exports to Europe – alongside cyberattacks and election interference aimed at weakening Western democracies from within. The 2016 U.S. 2016 U.S. election interference, Russia’s disinformation campaigns in Europe, and its ongoing hybrid war against Ukraine are all manifestations of this strategy.

Just as authoritarian regimes throughout history fought against their adversaries without conventional warfare, Putin’s Russia continues to exploit divisions and hardships, manipulate public opinion, and grind down trust in democratic institutions. The battlefields of today are not just in geopolitics but also in the media, cyberspace, and economic influence – it is a world where bullets are often replaced by lies, deception, and strategic coercion. A rational observer might bitterly ask: How many times must these facts be exposed before people finally grasp what is happening?

This reality is deep-rooted in the collective memory of the world, particularly in the context of the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Soviet Union’s brutal domination over Eastern Europe. Eventually, the Soviets were defeated, and the USSR was dismantled. Yet, both the USSR – and now Russia – have spent decades attempting to undermine Western democracies.

This effort predates the Cold War. It should not be forgotten that before joining the Allies in 1941 to defeat Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union was an ally of Hitler’s Axis, signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and invading Poland alongside the Nazis in 1939. The Kremlin has always viewed the West as its primary ideological and geopolitical adversary.

Indeed, undermining democratic stability has long been a powerful weapon against the West, fueling division and eroding trust in its institutions and values. But Russia’s ambitions go beyond direct interference in Western societies – it also succeeds in keeping entire regions in a state of perpetual instability. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Western Balkans, a region highly susceptible to external influence.

Indeed, undermining democratic stability has long been a potent weapon against the West, fueling division and eroding trust in its institutions and values. Yet, Russia’s ambitions extend beyond mere interference in Western societies – it excels in keeping entire regions in a state of perpetual instability. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Western Balkans, a region especially vulnerable to external influence.

Russia does not even need to make substantial efforts to turn the Western Balkans into a “fertile ground” for its disruptive strategies against the West. Encouraging and financing far-right nationalist and authoritarian leaders, while using local networks to spread propaganda, is often enough. Serbia, in particular, serves as a regional hub – not just for Russian propaganda through media and the Orthodox Church, but also for political and economic influence. As the most powerful republic in the former Yugoslav federation that was dismantled in blood in the 1990s, Serbia actively undermines international sanctions against Putin’s regime while positioning itself as a regional military power that could turn rogue at any moment. And this is just one example among many, with similar patterns unfolding across Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond.

The war in Ukraine is the most brutal manifestation of Russia’s relentless efforts to reassert its lost imperial dominance. Three years after launching its full-scale invasion, Russia continues its genocidal aggression, fueled by its deep-seated hatred toward the West. The Kremlin’s goal has never been limited to Ukraine alone – it is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the unity of Western democracies, discredit their values, and weaken their institutions. Ukraine, standing as a frontline defender of democratic ideals, has resisted this aggression with remarkable valor – at immense cost. Yet, its resilience has exposed Russia’s deep vulnerabilities and underscored the urgent need for global solidarity against authoritarian expansionism. This is the critical moment of our time.

However, Russia’s war machine has not operated in isolation. It has been emboldened by decades of Western appeasement – short-sighted policies that prioritized economic ties, political convenience, and diplomatic illusions over hard realities. Even after the invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, the West hesitated. Even then! It was only after the full-scale invasion in 2022, when the West responded – again, in increments.

Now, with Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the shift is even more alarming. His alignment with Putin is no longer a matter of speculation but a harsh political reality – one paid for in Ukrainian lives. Children, women, entire families are targeted daily by Russian missiles and drones. The Kremlin’s aerial terror campaign, designed to break Ukraine’s spirit, continues unabated, while Trump’s administration wavers between ambivalence and volatility at best, complicity at worst.

This is not just about tanks and missiles – it is about narratives, political influence, and the erosion of democratic principles from within. Russia’s strategy extends beyond the battlefield, targeting minds and institutions, fueling tensions, and exploiting weaknesses in democratic societies. From election interference in the U.S. and Europe to the amplification of extremist ideologies and conspiracy theories, Moscow has mastered the art of hybrid warfare. The West must come to terms with the harsh reality of its own indecisiveness and the long-standing destructive ambitions of Moscow—both in the Soviet era and today, under Putin, the most violent and murderous dictator of modern Russia, who no longer hides his imperial aspirations.

A slow, methodical attack on truth, trust, and democratic institutions can be just as devastating as open warfare.

Western leaders have long misjudged the scale and persistence of the threat, responding with half-measures and wishful thinking. But history has shown that hesitation only emboldens aggressors. The fall of the Soviet Union should have marked the end of an imperialist era, yet its successor, the Russian Federation, has spent decades orchestrating its resurgence. Now, with appeasement giving way to outright betrayal, the stakes could not be higher. The question is no longer whether the West will respond—but whether it will act in time to prevent the next catastrophe.