Russia attempts to sabotage European railways.

The Czech Republic has recently accused Russia of conducting a sophisticated cyberattack campaign aimed at sabotaging European railway networks, an act seen as an attempt to destabilize the European Union. In an interview with the Financial Times, Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka reported that thousands of interference attempts have been made against railway signaling systems, highlighting the extent and persistence of the digital assaults.
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The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) released a report last March indicating an increase in attacks on railway companies, primarily due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine (Picture source: Army Recognition)

According to Minister Kupka, the national railway operator České dráhy has been a frequent target, suffering attacks that have not only disrupted ticketing systems but also raised concerns about potentially disastrous interference with signaling systems. "It's a challenging issue... [but] I am very pleased because we can defend all systems against a successful attack," Kupka stated.

Concurrently, the Czech Republic plans to build a high-speed rail line connecting Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, partially funded by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility fund established in 2014. This railway project is part of a broader initiative to link Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans with Central Europe.

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) also released a report last March indicating an increase in attacks on railway companies, primarily due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The report identified significant cyber assaults by pro-Russian hacker groups targeting railway companies in Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Estonia.

Additionally, Czech intelligence services have warned of a rise in cyberattacks in the energy and transport sectors, a trend confirmed by electronic warfare actions orchestrated from the Russian city of Kaliningrad. These actions have disrupted GPS signals among Russia's Western neighbors, affecting critical systems like Starlink, used for satellite internet in Ukraine.

The same technology was reportedly used to interfere with satellite signals of a British Royal Air Force aircraft, raising further concerns among European intelligence services. These incidents are part of a larger digital war, where information and civilian infrastructure are becoming favored targets.

As the European Parliament elections approach in June, the Czech cybersecurity agency NUKIB and other European intelligence services remain vigilant, exposing Russian influence operations aimed at manipulating public opinion through media platforms like the Voice of Europe website. The Czech Republic, having strengthened its laws against cybercrimes and human rights violations by foreign entities, is gearing up for extensive information warfare, marking a new frontier in geopolitical conflicts in Europe.

Defense News April 2024