NATO allies condemn Russian cyberattacks

CANADA VOICES OPPOSITION TO ACTIONS

Canada joined NATO allies on Thursday in blaming the Russian military for new cyberattacks that targeted the international chemical weapons agency and the investigation into the mysterious 2014 crash of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine.

A statement from Global Affairs Canada said the latest incidents are part of a malicious pattern of behaviour that has included Russia’s 2016 attack on the Canadian headquarters of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Canada and its allies accused Russia’s secret military intelligence unit, the GRU, of a brazen attempt to hack The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in April.

Dutch Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld said the attack was disrupted and four Russian intelligence officers were immediately expelled from the Netherlands.

The GRU was also accused of trying to hack the investigation into the 2014 downing of a Malaysian Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine.

Canada echoed a cascade of condemnation from Australia, Britain and the Netherlands in accusing Moscow of a series of unprecedented espionage operations in both the physical and digital worlds.

The Global Affairs statement branded the Russian actions as “malicious,” saying Canada has “high confidence that the GRU was responsible” for the attempted attack on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

“The incidents identified by Canada and our allies, including the GRU’s attempt to undermine the work of the OPCW, underscore the Russian government’s disregard for the rules-based international order, international law and established norms,” the statement said.