NATO Threatens Response Over Alleged Russian Cyberattacks
NATO says it is ready to respond to alleged Russian cyberactivity, while the EU accuses Moscow of targeting governments and critical infrastructure networks.
NATO has declared its readiness to respond to cyberactivity that the alliance attributes to Russia, saying it poses a threat to the bloc’s security. The North Atlantic Council said NATO would decide independently when and how any potential measures would be taken.
In a document published on the alliance’s website, NATO condemned what it described as malicious Russian cyberactivity targeting member states and allied countries.
The bloc also called on Moscow to halt actions it characterized as destabilizing and inconsistent with internationally agreed standards of state conduct in cyberspace. At the same time, NATO reiterated its commitment to a free, open, peaceful and secure digital environment.
To deter and counter cyberthreats, the alliance said it was prepared to use the full range of capabilities available to it.
The Council of the European Union issued similar accusations on July 13, alleging that Russia had carried out malicious cyberoperations against ten European countries and Ukraine. Brussels claimed that hackers controlled by the Federal Security Service had penetrated government networks and disrupted critical infrastructure.
Following the allegations, the foreign ministries of France, Germany and Finland summoned the Russian ambassadors.