Russia admits that Kremlin ‘information troops’ conducted cyber attacks

A Russian government official has publicly acknowledged that its military has been involved in cyber attacks, according to reports – although it has not confirmed the targets.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said that Kremlin ‘information troops’ have disseminated ‘intelligent, effective propaganda’, according to the IBT.

Russia’s alleged involvement in the American election campaign has become a highly controversial issue for President Donald Trump.

Shoigu said to MPs, ‘We have information troops who are much more effective and stronger than the former ‘counter-propaganda’ section.

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Previously, the Kremlin has dismissed reports of Russian military hackers – or suggested that hacks were the work of rogue agents.

A series of linked attacks by Russian cyber attackers blacked out banks, newspapers, comment websites and government websites in Estonia in 2007, after a dispute between the two countries over the relocation of a Soviet-era grave marker.

It was widely speculated that the Kremlin had ordered the attacks.