The head of diplomacy of the European Union condemned on Tuesday the recent attacks by hackers against several member states of the EU bloc, warning of a “tense cyber threat landscape” coming from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
“The latest attacks […] carried out against various EU Member States and partners allegedly by groups of hackers The pro-Russians are yet another example of the heightened and tense cyber threat landscape that the EU and its member states have observed,” says EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell in a briefing note.
“We strongly condemn this unacceptable behavior in cyberspace. and express our solidarity with all countries that have been victims and remain determined to address and investigate malicious cyber activities affecting international peace, security and stability, including the security of the EU and its Member States, its democratic institutions, citizens , companies and civil society”, adds the representative.
Borrell’s position comes at a time when the armed conflict in Ukraine after the Russian invasion is almost five months old and when countries such as Italy and Lithuania have been subjected to cyberattacks from Russia.
Pro-Russian hacker group attacks Italian official websites
“Russia’s unprovoked and unwarranted military aggression against Ukraine has been accompanied by a significant increase in malicious cyber activity, including a staggering and worrying number of hackers and groups of hackers indiscriminately targeting essential entities around the world”, emphasizes Josep Borrell, who warns that this situation “creates unacceptable risks of side effects, misunderstandings and possible escalation”.
The head of European diplomacy recalls “the need for all UN member states to adhere to the United Nations framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace, in order to guarantee international peace, security and stability” , calling on countries “to meet their due diligence obligations.” ” and urging them to “take appropriate measures against malicious cyber activities carried out from their territory.”
“Furthermore, we urge all relevant actors to raise awareness about cyber threats and take preventive measures to protect critical infrastructure”, says Josep Borrell.
And ensures that the EU “follows the situation closely with a view to taking further actionwhen necessary, to prevent and combat such malicious behavior in cyberspace.”
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine on February 24 that has killed more than 5,000 civilians, according to the UN, which warns the true toll is likely to be much higher.
The Russian military offensive has caused the flight of more than 16 million people, of whom more than 5.7 million have fled the country, according to the latest UN figures.
Source: Observadora
