EUROSCEPTICISM IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN HYBRID WAR: CHALLENGES FOR EU INFORMATION SECURITY

Abstract

In this article, the author characterizes the phenomenon of «Euroscepticism» and analyzes the level of coverage of the selected issue in Ukrainian and Western academic schools. The author identifies the main factors driving this phenomenon in EU member states. The author also analyzes the challenges to EU information security through the lens of Euroscepticism in the context of Russia’s hybrid warfare. The author finds that Russia’s hybrid warfare negatively impacts sentiment in the European community, specifically by undermining public trust, creating economic instability, exploiting internal divisions, and fueling anti-European and anti- Ukrainian sentiment. Russia employs disinformation operations, cyberattacks, and various influence campaigns to sow discord and undermine public trust in national governments of European countries and EU institutions themselves (e.g., European Parliament elections and the 2025 Presidential elections in Romania). Russia uses sabotage and propaganda to exacerbate social tensions and promote negative attitudes toward Ukraine and support for it among EU countries (for example, Eurosceptic political forces in Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary). The author concludes that the main challenges to EU information security arising from hybrid warfare, skillfully employed by Russia to foster Eurosceptic tendencies in EU member states, are: the lack of a coherent strategy and coordination to counter Eurosceptic sentiments instilled by Russia’s disinformation tools; the vulnerability of critical infrastructure; and the insufficient resilience of society to disinformation. By using Euroscepticism as a propaganda bulwark, Russia’s actions weaken the desire for further integration (reducing support for enlargement and cooperation within the Union) by increasing discontent and doubt among the population