In Moscow's Shadows 270: Hoax Bombs and Difficult Language

Russia's 'hybrid war' on Europe seems to be hotting up - but can one confidently blame Moscow for the recent spate of hoax bomb threats? The first instinct is to say “it must be Russia” and it very probably is, but we need to understand what we can honestly claim, what we merely suspect, and we can respond when proof is partial by design.

This is about the language we use to assess the threat, but encoded within that is also a guide to European policy options. Likewise, Putin’s recurring use of the term “strategic defeat” also offers a guide both to his own fears and also his strategic communications -- and thus how the West can respond to that, too.

On the two assets I discuss:

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