Italy Declares: ‘We Are Under Attack’ as Russia Escalates Hybrid War. Italy’s defense minister Guido Crosetto warns that the West is facing an intensifying wave of “catastrophic” Russian hybrid attacks. In a 125-page report, he criticizes NATO and EU countries for their “inertia” and slow responses: “We are under attack and the hybrid bombs continue to fall.” Crosetto describes hybrid warfare as a constant assault on critical infrastructure, essential services and national decision-making systems. He argues it is “absurd” for the West to react so weakly, saying democracies are hindered by slow, consensus-driven processes that lag behind Russia. The threats extend beyond Moscow, with China, Iran and North Korea also engaging in destabilizing strategies. Recent incidents include cyberattacks, arson targeting equipment bound for Ukraine, drones near European airports, and migrant manipulation by Belarus. A Globsec report cites more than 110 sabotage attempts in Europe this year, mostly in Poland and France, often linked to Russian operatives. Crosetto proposes new defenses: a European Center for Countering Hybrid Warfare, a 1,500-member cyber force and specialists in AI, supply chain security and disinformation.