russia Intensifies Cyber Attacks and Espionage Against Europe – the Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service

The rf is stepping up its hybrid attacks aimed at undermining society in the Netherlands and its European allies. This was reported by the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) of the Netherlands with reference to the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

The agency notes the growing russian threat in Europe, in particular “after the possible end of the war against Ukraine”. “The conflict in the gray zone between war and peace has become a reality. More and more state actors are trying to undermine our society through hybrid attacks. russia is increasingly willing to take risks,” emphasizes the report.

The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands has also said that for the first time it detected russian hackers’ attack against the digital operating system of the civil service last year. Besides, the country’s security services detected a russian cyber operation against vital infrastructure in the Netherlands as preparation for sabotage.

Finally, russia carried out cyber attacks against, among other things, websites of political parties and public transport companies in the Netherlands. That was an attempt to make it difficult for citizens to vote during the elections to the European Parliament.

The Ministry of Interior of the Netherlands described such attacks as a combination of traditional acts of espionage with cyber attacks and other attempts to influence and undermine society. Due to, among other things, location and infrastructure, the Netherlands is of strategic importance for NATO and defense of Europe. This is one of the reasons why the Netherlands is on the radar of russian intelligence services.

The agency has reiterated its warnings about espionage activities by russian entities that map infrastructure in the North Sea, as well as about acts of sabotage targeting internet cables, water and energy supplies.