Germany has accused Russian military agents of hacking Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party and other sensitive government and industrial targets. NATO and European countries have joined in warning Russia that its cyberespionage actions will have consequences. Tensions between Russia and Germany were already high due to Germany’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that Russian military cyber operators hacked the emails of the Social Democrats, the leading party in the governing coalition, by exploiting Microsoft Outlook. The hacking campaign persisted for months, targeting not only political parties but also German companies in the defense and aerospace sectors.
The German Interior Ministry revealed that the hacking campaign began in March 2022, with emails at the Social Democrat party headquarters accessed starting in December. The German government, along with the Czech Republic, condemned the actions of the Russian hackers, known as APT28 or Fancy Bear, and vowed to take necessary measures to deter future cyber threats.
NATO also accused Fancy Bear of targeting governmental entities and critical infrastructure across the Alliance. The North Atlantic Council emphasized the importance of coordinated responses to combat cyberthreats. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Baerbock’s visit to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji focused on security policy amid growing concerns about China’s influence in the Pacific region.
The discussions between Baerbock and Australian counterpart Penny Wong included the conflict in Gaza and the need for a two-state solution. As the situation remains tense, Germany and its allies are determined to defend against cyber threats and ensure the security of their networks.
