EU condemns Russian cyberattacks against Ukraine

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Union on Tuesday condemned Russian’s “malicious cyber activity” against Ukraine, including an attack on an important satellite network right before the start of the war.

“The European Union and its Member States, together with its international partners, strongly condemn the malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which targeted the satellite KA-SAT network, operated by Viasat,” EU foreign policy Josep Borrell said in a statement.

He called the cyberattack “yet another example of Russia’s continued pattern of irresponsible behavior in cyberspace, which also formed an integral part of its illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.”

Borrell pointed out that the operation was carried out an hour before Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, disrupting the country’s entire communications network.

He warned that Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine, and in particular its critical infrastructure, threaten the security of all European citizens.

Reiterating the bloc’s previous calls, Borrell urged Moscow to end the war and the “senseless human suffering immediately.”

The EU has allocated €1.5 billion (over $1.58 billion) in military aid to Ukraine and mobilized more than €4 billion in financial assistance, humanitarian aid and support for EU countries hosting refugees from Ukraine.

It has also adopted five sets of sanctions, targeting individuals including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, oligarchs and military officers, while also banning exports of luxury goods and coal imports, and excluding Russian and Belarusian banks from the SWIFT international payment system.

A sixth set of sanctions proposed by the European Commission last week is presently being negotiated by EU member states.