Danish intelligence officials have accused Russia of orchestrating cyberattacks against Denmark’s critical infrastructure, as part of Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics against Western nations.

The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) released a statement attributing the attacks to two groups linked to the Russian state: Z-Pentest, involved in a destructive water-utility attack, and NoName057(16), responsible for DDoS assaults leading up to local elections in Denmark.

According to intelligence officials, these groups are used as tools in Russia’s hybrid war against the West, aiming to create instability in targeted countries and retaliate against supporters of Ukraine.

Russia’s cyber operations are part of a broader campaign to undermine Western solidarity with Ukraine. The DDIS believes that the Danish elections served as a platform to garner public attention, mirroring similar tactics seen in other European elections.

Following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Denmark has stood with international sanctions against Moscow and provided support to Ukraine through military aid and financial assistance.

Denmark’s Defence Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, condemned the cyberattacks, calling them a manifestation of the ongoing hybrid war in Europe. Poulsen announced that the Danish foreign office would seek clarification from the Russian ambassador regarding the incidents.

Previous incidents, such as the opening of dam valves in Norway by pro-Russian hackers and DDoS attacks in Denmark three years ago, highlight the persistent threat posed by cyber groups linked to Russia.

Recent warnings from cybersecurity agencies, including CISA, FBI, NSA, and EC3, indicate that pro-Russia hacktivist groups like NoName and Z-Pentest are actively targeting critical infrastructure worldwide.

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