Overview
- Germany publicly attributes the August 2024 intrusion at its air navigation service to APT28, saying the GRU directed the operation.
- Officials say a coordinated “Storm 1516” effort sought to sway the February 2025 federal election using deepfakes, pseudo-journalistic sites and fabricated testimony.
- Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese says the ambassador was summoned to protest a surge in hybrid activities and to warn of consequences.
- Planned countermeasures include new EU listings with asset freezes and travel bans, plus Schengen-wide monitoring of Russian diplomats’ cross-border movements from January 2026.
- The Russian embassy denies state involvement and calls the accusations unfounded, while Germany cites ongoing investigations and ZEAM’s expanded monitoring of foreign manipulation.