As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to destabilize Eastern Europe,a growing debate is emerging regarding the West’s response to escalating Russian aggression.Recent reports indicate increasing concern over Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics,prompting calls for a more proactive defense strategy. Now, a former Finnish intelligence chief is advocating for offensive cyber operations against the Putin regime, a proposal gaining traction among some European policymakers as they consider mirroring Russia’s tactics to deter further attacks.
Putin leads a hidden war against democratic Europe. Image: keystone
Should the West conduct cyberattacks against the regime of Vladimir Putin? A Finnish expert believes there are compelling reasons to do so.
04.12.2025, 20:3604.12.2025, 20:36
Thomas Wanhoff / t-online
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As concerns grow over Russia’s ongoing destabilizing activities in Europe, calls are mounting for a more assertive response. Pekka Toveri, the former head of Finland’s intelligence agency, is advocating for proactive measures against what he describes as Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics.
“We have allowed Russia to control the discussions on social media platforms with fake news and lies. We should launch our own information campaign to better combat these false claims than we do today.”
Toveri goes further, suggesting “independent cyber operations.” He led Finland’s intelligence service for two years and currently serves as a Member of the European Parliament. The proposal reflects a growing debate within European security circles about how to deter further Russian aggression.
He argues that other nations should follow the lead of Denmark and Czechia in authorizing such covert operations. While Russian attacks are readily apparent, Toveri points out they are often difficult to prove in court.
Therefore, Toveri contends, Western countries should operate under the same rules as Russia.
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Exploiting Vulnerabilities in Russian Windows PCs
Toveri suggests targeting weaknesses in Russian computer systems. He notes that many Russian computers operate with pirated Windows licenses that do not receive updates, creating security vulnerabilities that Western intelligence agencies could exploit.
About Pekka Toveri
Pekka Toveri is a Finnish EU politician and retired Major General with over 35 years of service in the Finnish Armed Forces. He is a recognized expert on security and defense issues, particularly concerning Russia, and is a strong advocate for supporting Ukraine.
Image: imago-images.de
Luxury vehicles driven by oligarchs close to Putin are also potential targets. “We can shut down the software on Putin and his friends’ cars. This way, we can also stop machines remotely. That would really annoy Putin’s friends: if they have to say goodbye to their Mercedes and switch to a Lada,” Toveri stated.
He cited the example of agricultural machinery stolen from Ukraine by Russian forces, which was remotely disabled and rendered unusable. However, Toveri also outlined red lines, stating that nuclear systems should not be targeted, nor should actions be taken that could cause train accidents. The focus, he emphasized, should be on oligarchs and Putin supporters.
Calls for Offensive Measures from Green Party Politician
In October, German Green Party lawmaker Anton Hofreiter also called for a more assertive approach to Russia. He clarified that this did not include drone strikes or missile attacks. “However, what we urgently need are offensive cyber capabilities,” Hofreiter said in an NTV broadcast. “That we tell Russia: if you continue to build crap with cyberattacks here, we can do the same.” Simply possessing these capabilities, he argued, would be a sufficient deterrent.
Florian Hahn, a CSU politician, expressed similar concerns on German broadcaster Welt TV in early November, warning of increasing hybrid warfare against Europe. He called for stronger deterrence and questioned whether the alliance should become more proactive in responding to attacks, rather than simply defending against them.
Toveri offered a prediction regarding a potential post-Putin scenario:
“If Putin were to die tomorrow, another trusted figure from the inner circle of the Kremlin, another criminal, would come to power.”
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