Decoding Russia's Digital Offensive

When Russia invaded Ukraine more than a month ago, it was feared that there would be massive cyber-attacks on Ukraine and its supporters, including the NATO powers led by the United States. But such is the situation today that it is Russia that is complaining of being the target of cyber offensives.

- Prakash Nanda

In a statement on March 29, the website of the Russian foreign ministry said, “In fact, state institutions, the media, critical infrastructure facilities, and life support systems are subjected to powerful blows every day with the use of advanced information and communication technologies. At the instigation of the Kiev regime, an international call' of anti-Russian computer specialists has been announced, in fact, forming 'offensive cyber forces'. The bill for malicious attacks against us goes to hundreds of thousands per day.”

Of course, the Russian statement talked of Moscow's capacity to resist these attacks. In fact, it went to the extent of warning that No one should have any doubts: the cyber aggression unleashed against Russia will lead to serious consequences for its instigators and executors. The sources of attacks will be established, the attackers will inevitably be held responsible for what they have done in accordance with the requirements of the law.

Interestingly, this Russian complaint/ threat came after five days of the US charging four Russian hackers over cyberattacks on the global energy sector between 2012 and 2018. On March 24, the US unveiled criminal charges against them, saying that they engaged in two major hacking campaigns that targeted the global energy sector and affected thousands of computers across 135 countries.

That Russia's cyber power is formidable is well known, particularly to the Americans, many of whom still believe that but for Russian cyber intervention, Donald Trump would have never become the President of the United States.