European leaders are expressing growing concerns over the potential for Russian military actions targeting NATO members. Danish intelligence has warned that the risk of such an attack is "low but growing," suggesting that Moscow may attempt strikes within the next few months. According to a report by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Russia is reportedly preparing to launch drone attacks from the sea against key European nations like France, Spain, and Italy. These concerns have been shared with several European governments, according to an unnamed source close to Lithuania’s defense ministry, as reported by Spain’s El Mundo. Experts highlight that Europe faces several vulnerabilities that could leave it exposed in the event of such an attack. These include military shortages, political disagreements among NATO members, and critical infrastructure weaknesses such as electricity, transportation, communications, and water supplies. These systems are essential for maintaining societal functions, and their disruption could have severe consequences. Katia Glod, deputy head of foreign affairs at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre, notes that the potential threat is not a full-scale Russian invasion but rather a limited operation aimed at testing NATO’s response. The goal would be to determine the alliance’s red lines and whether its members could agree on a unified response. Such an attack might involve drone or missile strikes on military or critical infrastructure, or even a limited incursion into a specific geographic area. Daniel Schatz, a Swedish political scientist, emphasizes that Russian military actions could take the form of a drone strike, an attack on critical infrastructure, or a limited incursion. Given Russia’s experience in targeting Ukrainian transport and energy infrastructure during its invasion, Schatz argues that NATO must also safeguard its own ports, railways, power supplies, and communications. Glod adds that Russia is skilled at exploiting political ambiguity, potentially launching attacks that leave governments uncertain about how to classify the event or respond. Despite commitments by NATO members to increase defense spending, significant gaps remain in European military preparedness. Experts like Schatz stress the need for stronger air and drone defenses, more ammunition, and faster-moving reinforcements. While NATO as a whole is more powerful than Russia, weaknesses in European readiness persist. For example, Britain is only now expanding its homeland air and missile defense, and years of post-Cold War budget cuts have left parts of the military with limited troop numbers. Glod warns that readiness extends beyond military assets—ensuring that society can continue functioning during crises, such as disruptions to electricity or water, is also crucial. While some European countries have made progress in civil preparedness, there is still a gap between recognizing the need and achieving true societal resilience.