Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Launches Pre-Emptive Strike in Olympics 'Info War'

Carl Sandin / Zuma / TASS

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused Western media of planning a smear campaign accusing Russia of hacking the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Following the leak of world anti-doping officials’ emails by a Russian-linked hacking group last month, security researchers have reportedly warned of more state-sponsored cyberattacks at the Winter Games opening on Friday.

“We know that Western media are planning pseudo-investigations on the subject of the ‘Russian footprint’ in hacking attacks on information resources related to the hosting of the Winter Olympic Games in the Republic of Korea,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

“Of course, no evidence will be presented to the world,” the ministry added in its online statement on Thursday.

It warned that the “anti-Russian informational wave” could backfire and “provoke the activation of international terrorist and criminal groups.”

The ministry did not name the countries preparing the attack but warned that “biased media” — including the Washington Post, Buzzfeed News — and cybersecurity firms “with close ties to the CIA and the NSA” could be involved.

“We suspect that this is how another provocation is being prepared [...] Certain forces are again trying to use the ‘Russian threat’ algorithm in the Olympic movement,” the ministry said.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more