Germany has formally accused Russia of launching a cyber-attack in 2023, with Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stating the act will face consequences. During a press conference alongside the Australian Foreign Minister, Baerbock expressed strong disapproval of the cyber assault aimed at the Social Democratic Party, pinning the blame on APT28, a group reportedly directed by Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.
In response to these allegations, the Russian embassy in Berlin rejected the claims. They described the summoning of their ambassador to the German Foreign Office as an “unfriendly step” aimed at fostering negative sentiment against Russia in Germany. The embassy’s statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), also mentioned a lack of evidence backing the German accusations.
The United States condemned the cyber-attack as well, describing it as “malicious” and criticizing Russia for not adhering to the UN’s guidelines for responsible state behavior in cyberspace. The US reaffirmed its commitment to cybersecurity and the protection of its allies, promising continued efforts alongside the EU and NATO to counteract Russia’s cyber activities.
This incident comes in the wake of similar cyber-attacks on other European nations such as Czechia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden, all of which have been attributed to Russian military organizations. NATO has voiced its support for the affected countries and called for a collective response to what it views as ongoing, significant threats to global cyber and national security.
