Germany has formally accused Russia of orchestrating a cyber-attack on the nation’s air traffic control systems in August 2024, alongside attempts to interfere in the country’s federal election, officials confirmed. Berlin summoned the Russian ambassador in response to the allegations, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions.
A spokesperson for Germany’s foreign ministry said intelligence pointed to Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, as responsible for the cyber-attack, which targeted communications systems used by the country’s air navigation service provider. While flights were not disrupted, officials stressed the breach represented a serious threat to national security.
“The intelligence clearly attributes the attack to the GRU,” the spokesperson stated, noting that Germany has identified the Fancy Bear hacker group as a key actor. Fancy Bear, known for high-profile operations such as the 2016 U.S. Democratic National Committee breach and leaks of World Anti-Doping Agency data, has been linked repeatedly to Russian military operations.
The ministry also revealed that Moscow attempted to destabilize Germany’s federal election in February 2025 through a disinformation campaign dubbed Storm 1516. Fake videos targeting leading candidates, including Green Party’s Robert Habeck and CDU’s Friedrich Merz, who later became chancellor, circulated in the weeks preceding the vote. German authorities described the campaign as a coordinated effort to manipulate public opinion and undermine trust in the electoral process.
Russia dismissed the claims as “absurd,” with its Berlin embassy denying involvement in either the cyber-attack or election interference. “Accusations linking Russian state structures to these incidents are baseless and unfounded,” the statement read.
The accusations come amid broader European concerns about Russian cyber operations since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The UK and Romania have recently cited similar interference in domestic affairs, including targeting organizations providing assistance to Ukraine.
Relations between Berlin and Moscow have been strained for years, intensified by Germany’s vocal support for Kyiv, including military, financial, and diplomatic assistance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has repeatedly condemned Russian cyber-warfare, calling for frozen Russian assets to be used in defense of Ukraine. Historical incidents, such as the 2019 assassination of a Chechen in Berlin linked to Russian state security, have further deepened mistrust.
Germany emphasized that, in coordination with European partners, it will implement countermeasures aimed at holding Moscow accountable for its hybrid actions. Officials warned that protecting national infrastructure from cyber threats and safeguarding democratic processes remains a top priority in the face of persistent external threats.
