Norwegian police say pro-Russian hackers were likely behind suspected sabotage at a dam

Norwegian police have pointed to pro-Russian hackers as the likely culprits behind a suspected sabotage incident at a dam in April that disrupted water flows. Beate Gangås, the director of the Norwegian Police Security Service, emphasized that cyberattacks against Western nations are on the rise, aiming to instigate fear and chaos. In a report by the Associated Press, over 70 incidents across Europe have been traced back to a campaign attributed to Russian actors, which Western officials have labeled as "reckless." Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, authorities in the West have accused Russia and its affiliates of orchestrating a variety of attacks, including vandalism, arson, and even attempted assassinations. The April incident saw hackers infiltrate a digital system that controls one of the dam's valves, reportedly increasing water flow for approximately four hours. Fortunately, this did not endanger the surrounding area. A video surfaced on Telegram revealing the dam's control panel and featuring a marker linked to a pro-Russian cybercriminal group, as confirmed by police attorney Terje Nedrebø Michelsen. This alarming revelation marks the first time since 2022 that Norwegian officials have publicly indicated that pro-Russian hackers may have effectively targeted critical water infrastructure in Europe. Gangås expressed concerns during a briefing, alongside Norway’s intelligence agency head, about the rising frequency of such hybrid attacks, suggesting that these operations are likely to escalate in Norway and across other European nations.