As tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has renewed its accusations against Moscow for conducting cyber attacks across European nations.
The German Intelligence Agency warned that a Russian group has carried out cyber attacks within NATO countries.
This announcement comes in addition to previous reports that the group has targeted specific entities in NATO and the European Union, as confirmed by Reuters.
The German Federal Data Protection Authority shared on platform X that this warning was issued in collaboration with the FBI, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the National Security Agency.
This is not the first time German authorities have pointed fingers at Moscow; in May, they accused Russia of targeting their defense and aerospace companies, the ruling party, and other objectives in various European countries.
NATO has also disclosed that this Russian cyber campaign targeted government bodies, operators of critical infrastructure, and other entities in Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
Recently, Eric Barron, the Attorney General of Maryland, USA, revealed that five Russian agents from Military Intelligence Unit 29155 were responsible for attacks on infrastructure in Ukraine.
This spotlight on Russian units known for their cyber operations abroad has been growing. Notably, these units include those responsible for the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain.
Another unit, Military Unit 74455, which is an electronic warfare unit of the Russian Army active since 2007, has drawn significant attention from European nations following an investigation by digital security firm Mandiant.
The Russian hacking group Sandworm, which is purportedly close to the Kremlin, has played a significant role in supporting Russian military objectives in Ukraine before expanding its operations to include sabotage of critical infrastructure in some European countries and threatening NATO interests.
The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has heightened tensions between Russia and the West, which has vowed to respond robustly to any threats to its security.
This escalation has also increased European concerns about Russian cyber operations suspected of infiltrating several European nations.
