Germany Points Finger at Russia for Cyberattack and Election Interference

Germany has officially accused Russia of executing a cyberattack on its air traffic control systems and attempting to sway the outcomes of the February general elections, a claim that Russia has categorically denied. A spokesman for the German foreign ministry shared that intelligence services have gathered solid evidence connecting Russian military intelligence-operated hacker groups, notably the GRU, to these attacks and their accompanying disinformation efforts.

According to the spokesman, a thorough assessment by German intelligence pinpointed APT28, infamously known as Fancy Bear, as the source of the cyberattack. “Our intelligence conclusions definitively identify the Russian military intelligence service GRU as the perpetrator of this incident,” he stated. The attacks, which took place in August 2024, raised alarm over possible interruptions in safety systems.

Moreover, the German government asserted that Russia attempted to influence the parliamentary elections, resulting in a victory for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative party and significant gains for the far-right AfD party. This endeavor, dubbed Storm 1516, reportedly involved Russian-affiliated think tanks and various online entities disseminating manipulated content and deepfake imagery intended to fracture societal trust and weaken faith in democratic institutions.

The disinformation campaign included various false narratives targeted at high-profile political figures, such as former foreign minister Annalena Baerbock and ex-vice chancellor Robert Habeck, both associated with the Greens party. German fact-checkers successfully debunked several falsehoods, including claims regarding the removal of AfD candidates from ballots in Leipzig and allegations of ballot tampering in Hamburg.

In retaliation for Russia’s hybrid tactics, Germany warned that it will implement a range of counteractions, collaborating closely with its European allies. Planned measures may encompass new sanctions against implicated individuals and groups, as well as increased vigilance regarding the movements of Russian diplomats within the Schengen Zone starting January.

Sinan Selen, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, BfV, underscored that the Storm 1516 operation signifies a direct assault on the democratic framework of Germany. The disinformation initiative included pro-Russian influencers, conspiracy theorists, and far-right extremist groups. European governments remain vigilant against Russian espionage, drone surveillance, sabotage, cyberattacks, and misinformation efforts.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany has been a key supporter of Ukraine, also accusing Moscow of conducting drone flights near numerous European airports lately. The foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized that Germany has “compelling evidence” of Russia's involvement but could not divulge further specifics to safeguard intelligence operations.