Germany Admits It Was Late to Recognize Russia’s Hybrid Attacks—Here’s What It’s Learning from Ukraine.

Hybrid Threats and Germany’s Response

According to UATV: Senke Mararens, a representative of the Bundeswehr’s Cyber Information Command, acknowledged that Germany was slow to grasp the full scope of hybrid attacks originating from Russia. He stressed that hybrid threats—including sabotage, infrastructure strikes, disinformation campaigns, and efforts to sway public opinion—demand the urgent development of countermeasures.

According to Mararens, the past 18 to 24 months have seen political shifts in Germany, indicating a growing recognition of these dangers.

“Germany realized rather late that we are being targeted with these hybrid methods. But I would say that over the last year and a half to two years, we have also seen changes at the political level.” – Senke Mararens

Supporting Ukraine and Building Resilience

In addition, Germany is actively backing Ukraine through financial aid and by providing training for Ukrainian troops during joint exercises.

“We support Ukraine financially. We are also adopting the experience gained on the battlefield. We provide training for them, and we learn from their experience during joint exercises at our training grounds.” – Senke Mararens

Mararens’ remarks highlight Germany’s increasing awareness of new threat patterns emerging from modern conflicts, particularly in Ukraine. By funding and training Ukrainian forces, Berlin underscores its security commitments and the need to adapt to evolving challenges—efforts that require not only military but also societal engagement. As the global landscape continues to shift, Germany aims to strengthen its capacity to respond effectively to hybrid threats.