Montenegro paralysed by cyber attacks

At the headquarters of the Montenegrin government, a NATO member state, desk computers are closed, the internet is missing, and the pages of state agencies are disabled.

The breakup comes amid a massive cyber attack on the small Balkan state, which officials say has distinctive marks of pro-Russian hackers and Moscow security services.

The co-ordinated attack began about 20 August and damaged government platforms on the internet, as well as putting vital infrastructure, including the banking system, water supply and electricity at high risk.

Since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in February, hackers have targeted several other European countries, mainly NATO members.

Sitting at his table in Podgorica's capital, ahead of a shut-down computer screen, Defence Minister Rasko Konjevic says government officials have been advised to pull off the line for security reasons.

We have about 20 days of facing serious challenges due to cyberattack and the entire state system, the state administration system and the service system towards citizens are operating at a very limited level”, he says.

Experts, including a team of investigators from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, are trying to find those responsible for the “brutal” attack, he adds.

“Is there a political background behind this attack? Personally, I think the minister is continuing.

Montenegrin government officials believe the attack was likely carried out by a gang of hackers linked to Russia.

The Russian-speaking cyber band claimed responsibility for at least part of the attack, infecting government services online with a virus known as Cuba.

It generally functions without being hampered by the Kremlin as long as it does not attack the friendly countries of Russia.

However, Montenegro's Agency for National Security directly blamed Russia for the attack.

“From the intensity of the attack, from the way the defence ministry was hit, allegations that a third party (state) may be behind it are more than reasonable”, says Minister Konjevic.

Montenegro, once considered a strong Russian ally, joined NATO in 2017, despite the Kremlin's opposition.

He has also joined Western sanctions against Russia.

Montenegro is currently headed by the interim government led by Dritan Abazovic, who has lost parliamentary support due to the prime minister's agreements and co-operation with Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The country is deeply divided among those seeking restoration of close ties with Serbia and Russia, and those in favour of membership in the European Union.

Although the struggle with firearms and bombs is under way in Ukraine, political analyst Zlatko Vujovic believes what is happening in Montenegro is “something similar “.

There are no bombs, but there is a great tension, a major hybrid conflict, in which Russia's interests and its Serbian intelligence services are interconnected, and it explains.

Other Eastern European countries considered enemies of Russia have also recently undergone cyber attacks. The targets have included networks in Moldova, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia and Albania.

Last week, Albania severed diplomatic relations with Iran and expelled its diplomats following a cyber attack in July on which it blamed the Islamic Republic. / VOA