The EU and UK impose sanctions on Russian intelligence for cyber-espionage campaign
The European Union and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on officers of Russian military intelligence and hackers for a cyber-espionage campaign targeting European governments and critical infrastructure.
The EU and UK impose sanctions on Russian intelligence for cyber-espionage campaign
The European Union and the United Kingdom imposed punitive measures on Monday against Russian military intelligence operatives, computer hackers and private companies, accusing them of conducting a prolonged cyber-espionage operation against European governments, according to AP News.
EU sanctions target nine individuals and four entities linked to an online espionage network that the bloc claims has targeted governments and sabotaged critical infrastructure such as heating and power plants since 2010. Britain separately sanctioned 24 individuals and entities.
The EU's chief of foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that the sanctioned individuals "contribute to Russia's efforts to destabilise the EU, its member states and international partners". She specified that France, Germany, Poland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania and Finland, among others, have been targeted by the network.
Germany summoned the Russian ambassador, whilst French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot indicated that Paris would also summon the Russian envoy. He told French television that the cyber activities aimed "either to capture information, or to sabotage the functioning of, for example, railway infrastructure, as has been the case in Poland".
The EU concentrated its measures on the 16th Centre of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), which Kallas stated controls various cyber-threat groups. Sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans. Notably targeted were GRU officer Evgueni Bashev and his company Impuls, which the EU said provided technical support to cyber attacks by GRU Unit 29155. Britain also sanctioned three other senior GRU officials for directing cyber operations and hybrid threats.
Source: Google News MT