🇩🇪 Germany Accuses Moscow of Cyber Sabotage
Germany has formally accused Russia of orchestrating a 2024 cyber-attack targeting the nation’s air traffic control systems, summoning the Russian ambassador in response. According to the Foreign Ministry, intelligence agencies concluded that the attack was carried out by Russia’s GRU military intelligence service, using the well-known hacker group Fancy Bear.
Officials say the attack, which happened in August 2024, attempted to disrupt critical aviation infrastructure.
🗳️ Alleged Attempts to Manipulate Germany’s Federal Election
Berlin also claims that Moscow attempted to influence the February 2024 federal election through a coordinated disinformation strategy known as “Storm 1516.”
This campaign reportedly targeted leading political figures, including:
- Robert Habeck of the Green Party
- Friedrich Merz, the CDU candidate and now chancellor
Security services say they detected fake videos and fabricated claims of ballot manipulation circulating just days before the election—content they believe was designed to create public distrust.
🎯 A Pattern of Global Cyber Operations
Fancy Bear, the group accused of the incident, has been linked to several high-profile cyber-attacks worldwide, including:
- The 2016 hack of the US Democratic National Committee
- The leak of World Anti-Doping Agency records
Germany says these operations form part of a larger hybrid strategy Russia has used across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
🇪🇺 Germany and EU Allies Plan “Strong Countermeasures”
Berlin said it is coordinating with European partners to ensure Russia “pays a price for its hybrid actions.”
While Russia has not responded to the latest claims, it has consistently denied similar accusations in the past.
❓What Do You Think?
Do you believe cyber-attacks and misinformation are becoming the biggest threat to modern elections?