S.C.A.R.E.: Russia’s Asymmetric War Against the West

Russia is waging a silent war against the West—one fought not with tanks and missiles, but through a mix of sabotage, cyberwarfare, assassinations, propaganda, and election interference. This is the world of asymmetric warfare, where Russia engages in covert and deniable attacks to destabilize its enemies while avoiding direct military confrontation. To understand the full scope of this strategy, we break it down using the S.C.A.R.E. framework:

S – Sabotage: Targeting Critical Infrastructure

Russia has a history of targeting essential infrastructure to create economic disruption and fear. This includes:

• The Nord Stream pipeline explosions (2022): Mysterious explosions destroyed sections of Russia’s own gas pipelines to Europe. Was this an attempt to prevent future negotiations or a false-flag operation?

• Undersea cable cuttings (2024-2025): Several incidents damaged undersea internet and power cables in the Baltic Sea, affecting communication between NATO allies.

• Power grid and energy attacks: Russia has previously launched cyberattacks against Ukraine’s power grid, showcasing its capability to plunge entire regions into darkness.

• Industrial and energy coercion: Russia has long used energy as a weapon, threatening gas supply cuts to Europe to exert political influence.

C – Cyberwarfare: Hacking Governments, Businesses, and Infrastructure

Russia is one of the world’s most aggressive actors in cyberwarfare, with well-documented attacks on governments, corporations, and infrastructure:

• NotPetya cyberattack (2017): A devastating malware attack initially targeting Ukraine but rapidly spreading worldwide, costing businesses billions of dollars.

• SolarWinds hack (2020): Russian-backed hackers infiltrated U.S. government agencies, corporate networks, and key supply chains.

• Election system breaches: Russia-linked hackers have attempted to access voting systems in multiple Western countries.

• Targeting Western banks and businesses: Financial systems remain vulnerable to state-backed Russian cyberattacks.

These cyber tactics allow Russia to inflict massive damage without firing a single bullet while maintaining plausible deniability.