Home » News » Cyberattack, Ukraine | US intelligence director: – Russia must lean more on computer attacks, energy control and nuclear weapons

Cyberattack, Ukraine | US intelligence director: – Russia must lean more on computer attacks, energy control and nuclear weapons

The United States’ top intelligence chief, Avril Haines, told a news conference on Wednesday that Russia may have to become more dependent on “asymmetric measures” in the future.

The Director of National Intelligence refers to instruments such as computer attacks, attempts to control energy and nuclear weapons to demonstrate “power and influence”, writes CNN.

According to US intelligence, Russia is so weakened militarily as a result of the war of aggression in Ukraine, that to a much greater extent than before they may have to resort to so-called “asymmetric measures”.

Haines says Russian ground forces are significantly weakened, and estimates it will take several years for Russia to rebuild its military capacity.

Cyber-attacks, energy and nuclear weapons

She believes it is unlikely that Russia will be able to carry out “several operations simultaneously” while rebuilding its defenses.

“During this period, we assume that they will become more dependent on the asymmetric tools they possess, such as cyber attacks, attempts to control energy, and even nuclear weapons to try to control and project global power and influence,” he said. Haines on the press conference.

– This means first and foremost that Russia is weakened militarily. There is no doubt that it will take a long time for them to get back to where they were. They are also weakened militarily in Norway’s immediate areas. Forces from the Kola Peninsula have also suffered significant losses in Ukraine. These other instruments will also be difficult for them to use, says the head teacher at the Norwegian Defense College, Lieutenant Colonel Geir Hågen Karlsen, to Nettavisen.

– The problem for the Russians is that they will be dependent on asymmetric means or hybrid war, but in many of these areas they will have little impact and impact. They will be weakened in all areas because the world is disconnecting from Russia, says Karlsen.

– Demanding for the Russians

Karlsen points out that there is little receptivity to Russian views in Western countries, and that very few Western politicians will be associated with Russia.

– It will be demanding for them to commit computer crime against the West. If they escalate with cyber attacks, they will be met with Western counter-reactions. Russia is also vulnerable to digital attacks on its infrastructure. When it comes to energy, western countries will continue to get rid of Russian energy as soon as possible, says Karlsen.

– When it comes to nuclear weapons, we really stand where we are today. What we have to risk now is demonstration, hint and threats with nuclear weapons. But the Russians also understand the consequences of using nuclear weapons. They themselves have experienced the Chernobyl accident and know the consequences of radioactive contamination. And they will lose all support from countries that directly or indirectly support them, such as China and India. So it will have a high cost for them, says Karlsen.

video-description">The Prime Minister is shaken by the hacker attack from Russia.

Hacker attack on Norway

On Wednesday this week, several Norwegian public websites were subjected to hacker attacks, including the websites of the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority and BankID. The estimates were so-called DDoS (denial of service) attacks. This means that servers are flooded with extreme amounts of data requests. The purpose is to put online services out of play.

Karlsen describes this week’s computer attack on Norway as “digital vandalism”.

– It was probably just a political demonstration. It was in fact digital vandalism, and did not create any lasting damage that we have seen so far. It emphasizes that the cyber threat is high and will not be lower in the first place. This applies to both the public and private sectors. Those who do not take the cyber threat seriously now, risk a serious blow, he says.

Major: – Cyber ​​attacks are a threat

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) describes the cyber attack on Norway as serious.

– It is serious and an illustration that cyber attacks are a threat, and that it occurs, Støre told Nettavisen on Wednesday afternoon (see the full interview in the video).

The hacker attack took place at the same time as heads of state from all NATO countries gathered for a summit in Madrid.

– It is hardly coincidental that it happens at a time when there is a lot of attention around the relationship between Russia and the rest of Europe. But I do not want to speculate on that any more, says Støre.

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