Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy increasingly mirrors the methods once used by ISIS, according to a Euronews report published on October 30, 2025. The report highlights how Russian intelligence agencies employ propaganda, disinformation, and recruitment of vulnerable individuals to sow chaos and fear across Europe. Similar to ISIS’s mobilization of marginalized groups between 2013 and 2019, Moscow exploits religious and nationalist messages to radicalize socially isolated Russian-speaking communities abroad.
Propaganda and radicalization
Experts note growing parallels between Russia’s tactics and those of terrorist organizations. In October 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Moscow of running a systematic online radicalization campaign — a hallmark of ISIS operations. Both use social media to spread extremist narratives, undermine trust in Western governments, and discourage public support for Ukraine. These digital efforts combine ideological messaging with financial incentives to attract “disposable agents” willing to conduct acts of sabotage or espionage.
Recruitment through ideology and desperation
Hans-Jakob Schindler, head of a counter-extremism project, told Euronews that ideal recruits for such operations are either ideologically motivated or seeking economic stability. Financial hardship, he said, often outweighs ideological commitment, creating fertile ground for manipulation. Russia’s intelligence services reportedly target marginalized or criminal elements in Europe, echoing ISIS’s practice of recruiting petty criminals for terrorist attacks. According to Deutsche Welle, more than 40 Russian operations were identified across Europe in 2024, including arson, assassinations, and sabotage.
Marginalized communities as targets
The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) warns that socially isolated and economically unstable Russian-speaking groups in Europe are particularly vulnerable to recruitment. These individuals are often approached through online networks, religious circles, or sports clubs, where they are encouraged to conduct low-level intelligence or sabotage missions. Russian Orthodox parishes in Germany, France, and Spain have also been cited as potential channels for influence operations and propaganda dissemination.
Psychological warfare and European response
Analysts describe Russia’s hybrid attacks as primarily psychological — designed to instill fear, confusion, and division rather than achieve direct military objectives. Even minor sabotage incidents can erode public confidence in national security and deepen polarization within European societies. Experts argue that Europe’s current defenses remain inadequate, urging the creation of an integrated early-warning system and stronger coordination among EU intelligence services to counter disinformation, cyberattacks, and radicalization efforts.
