Cyber/russia: The European Union and its member states have denounced Russia's malicious cyber activities, highlighting the involvement of a cyber ecosystem that includes both state and non-state actors, ranging from intelligence services to cybercriminal groups, hacktivists, and private companies.
According to European Union, the 16th Centre of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) is identified as controlling several cyber threat groups, including TURLA. For years, the FSB has engaged in a range of malicious cyber activities with increasing severity, impacting the EU, its member states, and international partners, notably Ukraine. These cyber activities have involved infiltrating governmental networks and sabotaging critical infrastructure. Countries affected include France, Germany, Poland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania, and Finland. The FSB's 16th Centre reportedly conducted cyber espionage against strategic governmental entities in France since 2010 and targeted the defense industry in 2025. In Germany, governmental entities have been targeted, and in Poland, recent disruptive sabotage operations targeted critical infrastructure, including combined heating and power plants.
Cybercriminals, self-proclaimed hacktivists, and private companies linked to Russia have also executed, enabled, and facilitated a wide array of malicious activities. The EU strongly condemns Russia's behavior and the misuse of this cyber ecosystem, which targets public services and critical infrastructure, causing disruptions and financial losses.
In response to these malicious activities, the EU is imposing restrictive measures on nine individuals and four entities. These sanctions target GRU intelligence officers, cybercriminals, self-proclaimed hacktivists, and private companies that contribute to Russia's efforts to destabilize the EU, its member states, and international partners.
The EU has expressed appreciation for its close coordination with the United Kingdom in assessing the growing convergence between non-state and state actors. It plans to continue strengthening cooperation with international partners, including NATO, in upholding a global, free, open, stable, and secure cyberspace.
By condemning Russia's malicious behavior and imposing penalties on those responsible, the EU emphasizes its commitment to maintaining accountability in cyberspace. The EU urges all states, including Russia, to adhere to the United Nations framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace, its norms, and international law.