Russia Accused by Germany of Major Cyberattack and Disinformation Campaign

Germany has formally accused Russia of orchestrating a sophisticated cyberattack and running an extensive disinformation campaign during the country’s recent federal election, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

In a strongly worded statement, the German Foreign Office declared that these activities were part of a deliberate strategy to undermine trust in Germany’s democratic institutions and processes. Officials described the campaign as one element in a broader series of Russian actions aimed at destabilizing the European nation.

The German government has summoned Russia’s ambassador to address these allegations and warned of further consequences. The diplomatic row centers around two major accusations: a cyberattack on Germany’s air traffic control and a coordinated disinformation operation.

According to a Foreign Office spokesperson, German intelligence has conclusively attributed an August 2024 cyberattack on DFS, Germany’s air-traffic control service provider, to the Russian hacker group Fancy Bear. “Our intelligence findings prove that the Russian military intelligence service GRU is responsible for this attack,” the spokesperson stated. While the attack compromised office communications systems, DFS reported that flight operations were not affected.

More alarming is Germany’s revelation of an elaborate Russian disinformation campaign code-named “Storm 1516.” Security officials say the operation has been active since 2024, primarily targeting elections in Western democracies, including Germany’s February 2025 federal election.

In a rare joint announcement, Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND) and domestic intelligence agency (BfV) detailed their investigation into the campaign. They examined 10 pieces of content distributed across social media platforms including X and Telegram between July 2024 and July 2025.

The campaign specifically targeted prominent German political figures, including then-Green Party candidate Robert Habeck and Friedrich Merz, who would eventually become chancellor. Intelligence agencies documented a series of fabricated stories and doctored content designed to discredit these politicians and undermine electoral integrity.

Among the false claims disseminated were allegations that then-Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had an affair during an African diplomatic trip, accusations of sexual abuse against Robert Habeck, and claims that Friedrich Merz had been previously committed to a psychiatric institution. Other disinformation included fake announcements about immigration policies and false accusations that Chancellor Merz personally profited from weapons deliveries.

BND President Martin Jäger framed the threat in stark terms: “Moscow seeks to destabilize European democracies and divide and intimidate societies. We must confront our adversaries wherever necessary.”

BfV President Sinan Selen highlighted the broader ecosystem supporting these operations, noting that “pro-Russian influencers with large followings, conspiracy theorists, and far-right groups” help amplify Kremlin-originated falsehoods through their networks.

The allegations come amid growing concern about Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics across Europe. German security experts define hybrid warfare as combining military, economic, intelligence, and propaganda tools to influence public opinion and undermine democratic institutions.

“We are closely monitoring what Russia is doing and we are taking action against it,” the Foreign Office spokesperson stated. Germany is planning a series of countermeasures in coordination with European partners to impose costs for Russia’s hybrid actions.

At the European level, Germany is advocating for new sanctions targeting individual actors involved in these operations, including entry bans and asset freezes. Officials emphasized that these measures will be implemented alongside continued support for Ukraine and strengthening of NATO deterrence and defense capabilities.

The revelations represent one of the most detailed public attributions of Russian information warfare operations by a Western government and signal a hardening stance toward Moscow’s influence operations in Europe.