On Thursday, Russia blamed the US and Ukraine for cyberattacks on its state institutions and critical infrastructure and warned the West that cyberattacks increase the risk of a “direct military clash.”
“The militarization of the information space by the West, and attempts to turn it into an arena of interstate confrontation, have greatly increased the threat of a direct military clash with unpredictable consequences,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The Russian warning came after the US military said it was conducting “offensive” cyber operations to support Ukraine. The head of US Cyber Command, Gen. Paul Nakasone, said last week that the US had “conducted a series of operations across the full spectrum; offensive, defensive, information operations.”
Nakasone didn’t disclose any details of the cyber operations, but his comments marked the first time a US official admitted to supporting Ukraine with cyberattacks since Russia invaded, which risks provoking Moscow.
The Russian Foreign Ministry hinted that Moscow might retaliate. “Rest assured, Russia will not leave aggressive actions unanswered,” the Ministry said. “All our steps will be measured, targeted, in accordance with our legislation and international law.”
President Biden has previously warned that he believes cyberattacks could trigger a major war. “If we end up in a war, a real shooting war with a major power, it’s going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence,” Biden said last summer.
Biden said it himself: If we end up in a war, a real shooting war with a major power, it’s going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence,” so what on God’s green earth is the military doing ratcheting it up? Doesn’t anyone remember Stanislav Petrov in 80’s refusing to loose the nukes, disbelieving correctly the US was nuking the USSR, or the 70’s US training top accidentally inserted showing Soviet attac or the time a diode burned out — technology is not perfect. The AI’s in the Platonic Sphere must be laughing their asses off.
It seems a very probable eventuality…
Agree in spades. Destroying infrastructure with a digital virus is much much cheaper and faster (speed of light) than missiles. Even if you have preserved an old control apparatus, does anyone know how to use it.
Just imagine when the banks go dark, utilities, etc., etc., ….
Prepare, prepare, prepare Robert.
Plant a garden and learn how to can; it’s not difficult. The Ball Blue Book is the Bible of home canners.
If you have the space, purchase a been there, done that horse for transportation if necessary.
This summer we’re going to install and old-fashioned hand pump well.
We already heat with wood.
Yes, and even by chance we’re saved from war, the climate crisis is going to force a return to the 19 cent.. But for me, a rain barrel and a bicycle is more likely, … ??
Good options too Robert!
The only clash Russia can have with the West would be nuclear. West would annihilate Russia in a conventional war
Well then, I suppose Russia would be left with no choice but to resort to nukes then, would it?
Russia might be destroyed but so would Amerikkka.
Russia has choices. They can pull out of Ukraine and they dont need to use Nukes. Nobody else but Kremlin (your boys), are the ones making nuclear threats.
It will be the U.S. that uses nukes first.
Absolutely, Mary, since Amerikkka is the only country that has actually done so.
Ukraine has choices. They can return to the negotiating table and THIS TIME, implement the Minsk Agreements.
Don’t tell me “your boy” ZelBoy had no choice in the matter.
That’s what $813 billion vs $60 billion will do.
That’s statement lacks substance. A dumb response.
Provide more input, you genius.
Wars’ comment is EXTREMELY substantial.
What , you don’t think throwing money at wars prolongs them?
Gee Don, I thought even you could figure that out. Let’s say you and I are going to race our cars against each other. I have $813 billion to spend on my car and you have $60 billion to spend on your car. Who do you think is going to win?
Given those particular numbers, whoever hires the best driver.
is this the same western military that had their astrolabe handed to them by some goat herders in Afghanistan?
If they can’t beat some goat herders, what leads you to believe they can take on the Russian military in a conventional war?
Well, that’s the key: “In a conventional war.”
The US armed forces don’t do very well at asymmetric warfare / counter-insurgency (neither, it seems, does anyone else). But they seem to do pretty well when their opponent tries to take them on in conventional warfare.
Enough with the Acts of War! The head of US military cyber warfare already admitted to being active against Russia.