A recent wave of cyberattacks in Europe has been linked to Russian hackers backed by Moscow. Both Germany and the Czech Republic have condemned these attacks, which targeted political parties, government services, companies, and other institutions. The German Foreign Minister identified the group responsible for the attack as APT28, connected to Russia’s intelligence services.
The European Union has strongly condemned these cyberattack campaigns and is committed to responding to Russia’s malicious behavior in cyberspace. The Russian embassy in Germany denied the accusations, stating that there is no evidence linking Russian state structures to the attacks. However, the EU has imposed sanctions on individuals associated with APT28 for previous cyberattacks.
The attacks on the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) were particularly concerning, with reports of data breaches and espionage. Prague also reported cyberattacks exploiting vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook. Both Germany and the Czech Republic have accused APT28 of orchestrating these cyberattacks. This group, also known as Fancy Bear, has a history of carrying out malicious activities against various countries, including France and Ukraine.
The German government has taken diplomatic steps to address the situation, summoning the charge d’affaires of the Russian embassy to explain the actions of APT28. Despite denials from the Russian embassy, member states remain united in their condemnation of these cyberattacks and their commitment to protecting against future threats in cyberspace.
