What's happened
Germany has accused Russian military agents of cyberattacks on the Social Democrats' party and other sensitive targets, leading to the recall of its ambassador to Russia and a decision not to attend Putin's inauguration. The cyberattacks were attributed to the APT28 group linked to Russia's military intelligence service, prompting Germany to warn of consequences and summon the Russian embassy's acting charge d'affaires.
Why it matters
Germany's accusations of state-sponsored Russian cyberattacks on political and industrial targets have led to diplomatic repercussions, with the recall of the ambassador and a boycott of Putin's inauguration. The attribution of the cyberattacks to a group linked to Russia's military intelligence service underscores growing tensions and the potential for further consequences.
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, Germany has recalled its ambassador to Russia in protest against cyberattacks on the Social Democrats' party and other sectors. The Moscow Times reports that the cyberattacks were attributed to the APT28 group controlled by Russia's military intelligence, leading to the temporary recall of the German ambassador. The Independent highlights Germany's decision to recall its ambassador for consultations following the alleged hacker attack on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party.
How we got here
Germany's accusations of Russian cyberattacks stem from a 2023 incident targeting the Social Democrats' party, with the APT28 group exploiting vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook. The cyber campaign, allegedly orchestrated by Russia's military intelligence service GRU, also targeted German companies in defense, aerospace, and IT sectors, as well as Ukraine-related entities.
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