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Russia has firmly rejected accusations from the European Union and the Netherlands that Moscow was behind a series of cyberattacks targeting government agencies and critical infrastructure in EU countries and Ukraine. Russian officials say the allegations are unfounded and lack evidence, and have warned of retaliatory measures if the EU expands sanctions.

Coverage Comparison

Russia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Vladimir Tarabrin, was summoned to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 14, where he was presented with an EU statement drafted in Brussels, as reported by TASS. The statement accused Russian state and non-state actors of orchestrating the cyberattacks and announced new sanctions against several Russian individuals and entities. Tarabrin dismissed the claims as baseless and lacking supporting evidence, according to the Russian embassy.

Separately, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova addressed the allegations at a news briefing, asserting that the Netherlands had provided no evidence to back up its accusations. She said the affected party had not sent any requests to Russia, including through the Global Intergovernmental Register of Contact Points, a mechanism she described as available for objective investigation into such claims.

Key Claims

  • Russia rejected EU accusations of cyberattacks, with Ambassador Tarabrin dismissing them during a summons to the Dutch Foreign Ministry.
  • The EU statement accused Russian state and non-state actors of cyberattacks and imposed new sanctions on Russian individuals and entities.
  • Tarabrin warned that further EU sanctions would provoke retaliatory measures from Moscow.
  • Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Netherlands provided no evidence for its accusations and called the attacks "rabid Russophobia."
  • Zakharova said the Netherlands had not used the Global Intergovernmental Register of Contact Points for an objective investigation.
  • Zakharova accused The Hague of fabricating a reason to intimidate Europe with an "imaginary Russian threat."