Germany has formally accused Russia of carrying out a cyberattack on its air traffic control systems in August 2024 and attempting to interfere in the country’s federal elections earlier this year. The German Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador following these revelations.
A ministry spokesperson stated that Russian military intelligence (GRU) was behind the cyberattack, which targeted critical air traffic infrastructure. The spokesperson also linked the attack to the Fancy Bear hacker group, known for previous operations including the 2016 Democratic National Committee hack in the U.S.
Germany further accused Russia of attempting to destabilize domestic politics through a disinformation operation known as Storm 1516, which focused on the country’s leading political figures: Robert Habeck (Green Party) and Friedrich Merz (CDU), the current Chancellor. Fake videos claiming election manipulation were circulated just days before the elections, according to German authorities.
“In coordination with our European partners, Germany will respond with countermeasures to ensure Russia pays the price for its hybrid actions,” the spokesperson said.
No immediate response was received from Moscow, reports BBC.
The accusations come amid heightened concerns across Europe about Russian cyber operations following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, underlining ongoing threats to democratic processes and critical infrastructure.
