European supermarkets targeted by cyberattacks on refrigeration systems. Russia is indicated as a possible perpetrator

The refrigeration systems of supermarkets in at least nine European countries were taken offline on Monday in a new wave of cyberattacks. The incidents affected stores in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland and Romania, while the perpetrators have not been identified.

The attacks were reported several weeks after similar incidents occurred in France on October 11–12. The recurrence of the operations and their expansion across several countries have drawn the attention of specialists, who warn of the vulnerability of Europe’s critical infrastructure.

The European Commission is set to analyze the incidents. Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen described them as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply chain. A criminal investigation has been opened in Belgium.

Several experts believe the attacks may have been carried out by a group supported by the Russian state. They cite the level of expertise required to access industrial systems, servers previously associated with Russian groups, and the context of Moscow’s hybrid war against Europe. However, there is currently no definitive evidence. Other hypotheses are also being considered, including the involvement of cybercriminals, a former employee or individuals acting independently.