EU and UK Sanction Russian Officials Over Cyber Campaign

Why it matters locally: While there's no direct, immediate impact specific to Connecticut mentioned, the state's critical infrastructure, including utilities, is similar to targets mentioned in the cyber campaign, highlighting a general cybersecurity concern that all states share.

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BRUSSELS — The European Union has implemented sanctions against nine individuals and four entities. These sanctions stem from accusations of their involvement in a cyberespionage network. This network, according to EU officials, has reportedly targeted government institutions and conducted sabotage operations on critical infrastructure, including heating and power plants, since 2010. Simultaneously, the United Kingdom announced its own set of sanctions. These UK measures target two individuals whom British authorities identify as members of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The UK government alleges that these individuals played roles in the same cyber operations. European Union officials stated that the targeted entities and individuals maintained connections to the online spying network. The network's activities spanned over a decade, impacting various governmental bodies. The EU’s action marks a coordinated response to the alleged cyber campaigns. The British government specified that its sanctions focused on particular individuals within the FSB. These individuals, according to UK statements, committed actions related to the identified cyberespionage activities. Both the EU and UK actions aim to address the alleged state-sponsored hacking.