Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) encountered a substantial cyberattack, compelling the party to temporarily disable segments of its IT infrastructure. Law enforcement authorities initiated an investigation into the attack, characterizing the perpetrators as sophisticated and adept. The incident comes amid heightened concerns about politically motivated cyber threats ahead of the impending EU election, with suspicions pointing towards Russian state-sponsored actors.
In response to the attack, the German Interior Ministry announced plans to caution all political parties in the German Bundestag about the ongoing threat. Enhanced protective measures against digital and hybrid threats have been implemented by authorities in light of the escalating cyber landscape. The surge in cyber intrusions aligns with recent statements from European cybersecurity officials, who have observed a doubling of attempted attacks from the last quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of this year, attributing many to Russian aggression.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock directly implicated Russia, identifying the cyberattack as the work of APT28, a group allegedly linked to the Russian military intelligence service. This accusation follows earlier allegations by the German government of cyberstrikes against lawmakers from the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) in 2023. The ongoing cyber warfare underscores the multifaceted nature of Russia’s aggression, manifesting both physically in Ukraine and digitally across Europe.
