German Intelligence Calls Russia's GRU Behind Cyberattacks Against NATO And The European Union

Illustration of hackers attacking the intelligence (photo: dock. pexels)

JAKARTA Germany's domestic intelligence agency, Bundesverfasssungschutz, recently issued a serious warning regarding cyber activity from Unit 29155 which is part of Russian military intelligence (GRU). According to a report released on Monday 9 September, the group was involved in a series of cyber attacks against NATO member states and the European Union.

The warning was published through social media X (formerly Twitter), in collaboration with the FBI, US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), US National Security Agency (NSA), and a number of other international partners. This step was taken to increase vigilance and protection amid growing tensions in Europe over cyber attacks allegedly carried out by Russia.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, concerns over Russian hacking and spying activities have escalated. Cyberattacks allegedly carried out by Russia have become a serious threat, in which Germany is one of the countries most frequently targeted.

Earlier this year, Berlin accused Russia of being behind a number of cyber attacks targeting the German Social Democratic Party, as well as companies in the logistics, defense, aerospace, and information technology sectors.

The cyber group in question, known for several names such as UNC2589, Cadet Blizzard, or Ember Bear, is associated with espionage and sabotage activities. Their activities often involve the destruction of websites and the publication of stolen data from hacked systems.

The GRU unit that houses the group also has a dark record, including their involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, in England in 2018, as revealed by the German intelligence agency.

The German intelligence agency also said that the attacks carried out by this group were aimed at stealing sensitive information and damaging critical infrastructure in target countries. This threat is considered very serious, given the increasingly widespread scale of attacks and targets important sectors that play a strategic role in the country's national and economic security.

The warning issued by Bundesverfassschutz comes amid broader efforts from the international community to deal with cyberattacks originating from Russia. NATO and EU countries are now increasing their cooperation in cybersecurity, including by strengthening their digital defense systems to face increasingly complex threats.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to deny allegations of involvement in international cyberattacks. However, increasingly clear evidence, including the direct identification of Unit 29155, shows that the hacking activity organized by GRU cannot be underestimated.

German intelligence and its international partners continue to monitor this situation closely, and this latest warning is expected to increase awareness and vigilance of countries that are targeted for attacks. Meanwhile, further measures to counter this threat will most likely include tightening cybersecurity, increasing intelligence coordination, and implementing international sanctions against cyberattack perpetrators involved.