The Netherlands warned of the threat of Russian hacker attacks

Russian hackers threaten new attacks aimed at Western aid to Ukraine. The Netherlands has emphasized the importance of exposing Russian cyber sabotage.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service.

The agency warns of active cyber operations conducted by Russian hackers. It is noted that they belong to the Russian unit 29155 of the GRU. It is reported to be focused on disrupting Western assistance to Ukraine and tracking the logistics routes of weapons supplies to Ukraine.

According to the Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service, Russian cyber operations are aimed at governments and critical infrastructure in Western countries.

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized the importance of exposing the methods of this unit so that governments and companies that help Ukraine can protect themselves from such attacks.

“Together with our partners, we decided to expose the working methods of this notorious Russian cyber unit. This way, everyone will see how they work. Thus, people can arm themselves against these abrupt attacks and espionage. Not only governments, but also manufacturers and suppliers of military equipment for Ukraine,” he said.

Vice Admiral Pieter Risink, Director of the Dutch agency, pointed out that although the Netherlands has not yet experienced large-scale cyber attacks on vital infrastructure, the threat remains a reality that cannot be ignored. As the Netherlands is an important transit country for aid to Ukraine, Russian hackers could target its logistics sector.

“This creates a threat that we increasingly have to take into account,” he said.

The Russian unit, GRU 29155, is also reportedly known for its actions related to physical sabotage and coup attempts in Europe. Western intelligence agencies have linked it to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the UK in 2018, an attempted coup d'état in Montenegro, and an assassination attempt on a Bulgarian arms dealer.

The Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service emphasized that Russian hackers are trying to obtain information about Western military supplies to undermine their effectiveness. The point is that such operations are part of Russia's large-scale campaign against Ukraine's support, which includes not only cyberattacks but also physical sabotage in Western territories.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 06/09/2024