Ask Onix
Germany levels cyber-attack and disinformation charges against Russia
Berlin has formally accused Moscow of orchestrating a cyber-attack on its air traffic control systems and attempting to interfere in Germany's federal election earlier this year. The Russian ambassador was summoned on Friday in response to the allegations.
Cyber-attack on air traffic control linked to Russian military intelligence
A German foreign ministry spokesman stated that the August 2024 cyber-attack on the country's air traffic control infrastructure was carried out by Russian military intelligence. The attack has been attributed to the hacker group Fancy Bear, which is known to operate under the GRU, Russia's military intelligence service.
While the attack targeted office communications of Germany's air navigation service provider, officials confirmed that flight operations remained unaffected. The spokesman emphasized that intelligence findings conclusively link the GRU to the incident.
Disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing Germany's election
In addition to the cyber-attack, Germany accused Russia of running a disinformation campaign, dubbed Storm 1516, designed to influence the country's federal election held in February 2025. The campaign reportedly targeted high-profile political figures, including Green Party candidate Robert Habeck and Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Security agencies identified fake videos alleging electoral fraud as part of the Russian effort to undermine public trust in the election process. The foreign ministry described the campaign as an attempt to destabilize Germany's internal affairs.
Germany vows coordinated response with European partners
The German government announced it would implement counter-measures in collaboration with its European allies to hold Russia accountable for what it described as "hybrid actions." The ministry spokesman stated that Berlin would ensure Moscow "pays a price" for its alleged interference.
Similar accusations have been made by other European nations in recent months. Both the UK and Romania have accused Russia of meddling in their domestic affairs, including efforts to disrupt organizations providing aid to Ukraine and attempts to influence presidential elections.
Historical context and deteriorating relations
Tensions between Germany and Russia have escalated significantly since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Germany has emerged as one of Kyiv's strongest supporters, providing military, financial, and diplomatic assistance. Chancellor Merz has been vocal in advocating for the use of frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine's defenses and has repeatedly accused Russia of engaging in cyber warfare against Germany.
Relations between the two countries have been strained for years. In 2019, a Russian national, Vadim Krasikov, was convicted of murdering an ethnic Chechen in Berlin's Tiergarten Park. German prosecutors suspected Krasikov acted on behalf of Russia's state security agency, leading to the expulsion of two Russian diplomats.
Russia's response and broader implications
As of Friday, Moscow had not issued a response to Germany's latest allegations. However, Russia has previously denied similar accusations from European nations regarding sabotage or hybrid warfare campaigns. The ongoing accusations underscore the broader concerns across Europe about Russian cyber threats and disinformation efforts amid the war in Ukraine.
"Our intelligence findings prove that the Russian military intelligence service GRU bears responsibility for this attack," the German foreign ministry spokesman said.
