Russia is preparing for a military conflict with NATO member states by 2030, according to Deputy Chief of Ukrainian military intelligence Vadym Skibitskyi.
Speaking in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Skibitskyi said asymmetric hybrid operations represent the most immediate Russian threat to Western countries and typically precede active combat operations.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence, known as GUR, is Ukraine's primary military intelligence agency, responsible for gathering foreign intelligence and assessing strategic security threats.
Skibitskyi noted that incursions by Russian drones into NATO airspace have increased since spring, with uncrewed aerial vehicles now being intercepted and shot down over Poland and Romania.
He highlighted that Moscow is actively spreading narratives in the information space designed to discredit Western weaponry supplied to Kyiv. At the same time, political movements loyal to Russia are gaining momentum in European countries, which Skibitskyi described as part of a coordinated hybrid campaign.
Hybrid tactics and war timeline
Skibitskyi explained that historical precedent and military theory show hybrid actions routinely precede armed warfare, making them a key indicator of preparation for conflict.
He stated that internal Russian planning targets a potential military conflict with NATO countries by 2030. Intelligence services across member states of the alliance have confirmed the same timeline data.
In response to the threat, Western nations are expanding military budgets, conducting joint exercises, and developing defense-industrial capacity to prepare for potential conflict using modern approaches.
NATO is a 32-member political and military alliance of Western nations bound by a mutual defense treaty to guarantee collective security across Europe and North America.
Western responses to Russian threats
As Western military assistance to Kyiv continues, Russia has begun issuing open threats to Western governments over their ongoing support for Ukraine.
Germany responded to the rhetoric by stating that it will not allow itself to be intimidated and will not alter its policy regarding Kyiv.
The British Ministry of Defence also answered the warnings, declaring that the United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and remains committed to supplying the equipment needed to defend against Russian aggression.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs cautioned on August 17 that Russia's hybrid war against Europe is not merely a future threat but is already underway.
