Russian cyberattacks hit Lithuania in response to Kaliningrad blockade

Riga, Jun 27 (EFE).- Lithuania recorded a wide range of cyberattacks on Monday on both private and governmental websites, including the foreign ministry.

The attacks, which have been claimed by Russian hackers, came after Lithuania last week implemented European Union sanctions affecting the rail transit of certain goods from Russia to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad to the west of the Baltic country.

According to Lithuanian media, the Russian hacker group Killnet carried out DDOS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks against a wide range of public institutions, including the tax service, the migration department and the Lithuanian airport authority.

Killnet confirmed via its Telegram account that it was behind the attacks.

“It is very likely that attacks of similar or greater intensity will continue in the coming days, especially in the transport, energy and financial sectors,” Jonas Skardinskas, interim head of Lithuania’s National Cyber Security Center (NKSC) said.

The head of Lithuania’s migration department, Evelina Guzinskaité, said the blocking of its systems was leading to delays in the issuance of passports and residence permits, local media reported.

Cybersecurity agencies in the Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – have reported an increase in hostile cyber activity since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

Attacks have affected platforms such as the inbox.lv email service as well as airport websites and ticket-buying services.

According to Lithuanian experts, Monday’s attacks could be part of the retaliatory “consequences” Russia warned of after accusing the Baltic country of having imposed a blockade on Kaliningrad.EFE

jkz/mp/ks