The Kremlin has made repeated threats against the many countries that have been supplying Ukraine’s army with modern weapons, and members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing network – the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – predicted Moscow could also work with cybercrime groups to launch attacks on governments, institutions and businesses.
“Evolving intelligence indicates that the Russian government is exploring options for potential cyber-attacks,” they said in an official cyber threat alert on Wednesday, noting that “some cybercrime groups have recently publicly pledged support for the Russian government”.
“Some groups have also threatened to conduct cyber operations against countries and organisations providing materiel support to Ukraine,”the Five Eyes alert said. It warned that Russian state-sponsored cyber actors have the ability to compromise IT networks, to steal large amounts of data from them while remaining hidden, to deploy destructive malware and to lock down networks with “distributed denial of service” attacks.
Putin presented the test launch of the Sarmat ICBM as a major breakthrough that would bolster Russian deterrence, claiming it had the “highest tactical and technical characteristics and is capable of overcoming all modern means of anti-missile defence”.
“It has no analogues in the world and will not have for a long time to come,” he said. “This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure Russia’s security from external threats and provide food for thought for those who, in the heat of frenzied aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country.”
West warns of Russian cyber-attacks as concerns rise over Putin’s nuclear rhetoric
Cybercrime groups have publicly pledged support for Russia, western officials worry about Putin’s reliance on nuclear threats and the battle for Mariupol in Ukraine grinds on
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