Russia Accused by Germany of Major Cyberattack and Disinformation Campaign

Germany has formally accused Russia of orchestrating a sophisticated cyberattack and running an elaborate disinformation campaign during the country’s recent federal election, describing it as part of a broader strategy to undermine democratic institutions.

In response to these allegations, the German Foreign Office summoned Russia’s ambassador to Berlin and promised further diplomatic consequences. Officials disclosed that a cyberattack targeting the German air-traffic control service provider DFS in August 2024 has been conclusively linked to the Russian hacker group Fancy Bear.

“Our intelligence findings prove that the Russian military intelligence service GRU is responsible for this attack,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said. While DFS reported at the time that its office communications systems had been compromised, the company implemented countermeasures that prevented any disruption to flight operations.

German intelligence agencies have identified a Russian operation codenamed “Storm 1516,” which they say was designed to “influence and destabilize both the last federal election and the internal affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany on an ongoing basis.” This campaign, which began in 2024, primarily targets elections across Western democracies.

In a collaborative investigation, Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND) and domestic intelligence agency (BfV) analyzed content published across social media platforms including X and Telegram between July 2024 and July 2025. Their findings revealed a coordinated effort to discredit prominent German political figures through fabricated content and false testimonies.

The disinformation campaign specifically targeted Green Party candidate Robert Habeck and the eventual chancellor, Friedrich Merz of the conservative bloc, ahead of the February 23 election. Security officials documented numerous false claims spread during this period, including fabricated scandals involving sexual misconduct, mental instability, corruption, and even bizarre accusations about killing polar bear cubs.

BND President Martin Jäger emphasized the strategic nature of these operations, stating that “Moscow sought to destabilize European democracies and divide and intimidate societies. We must confront our adversaries wherever necessary.”

His counterpart at the domestic intelligence agency, BfV President Sinan Selen, described how the “disinformation ecosystem” functions through a network of pro-Russian influencers, conspiracy theorists, and far-right groups that amplify Russian falsehoods through their channels.

These revelations come amid growing concerns about Russia’s increasing use of hybrid warfare tactics against European nations. German security experts define hybrid warfare as a combination of military, economic, intelligence, and propaganda tools designed to shape public opinion and destabilize target countries.

“We are closely monitoring what Russia is doing and we are taking action against it,” the Foreign Office spokesperson declared. The German government is planning countermeasures in coordination with European partners to “show Russia a price for its hybrid actions.”

These measures may include new sanctions targeting individual actors responsible for the operations, such as entry bans and asset freezes. The spokesperson emphasized that Germany will simultaneously “continue to strengthen our support for Ukraine and our deterrence and defence.”

The accusations represent a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between Germany and Russia, which have deteriorated steadily since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. They also highlight the growing vulnerability of democratic electoral processes to foreign interference through digital means, an issue that has become a major security concern across Western nations.

Cybersecurity experts note that these sophisticated influence operations demonstrate Russia’s long-term commitment to undermining European solidarity and democratic institutions, particularly as nations like Germany continue to support Ukraine militarily and economically.