If this reporting is right, what we're seeing is a chilling campaign to punish democracies for helping Ukraine and to spread fear — and it must be met with firm, coordinated action. That doesn't mean knee‑jerk escalation: we need clear, transparent investigations and intelligence shared across the EU and NATO so civilian infrastructure is protected, perpetrators are held to account, and policy responses are targeted and legal. At the same time, we must resist turning this into a license for xenophobia or repression at home — distinguishing between Putin’s regime and ordinary Russian people is crucial, and civil liberties must not be collateral damage in the name of security. Progressive values demand both robust defense of partners and a push for non‑military levers: smart sanctions, support for Ukrainian civilians, humanitarian aid, and intensified diplomacy to reduce the chance of further violence. Finally, governments should invest in resilience — physical security, cybersecurity, and protections for workers and communities near vulnerable sites — so our democracies don’t have to choose between openness and safety.