Russian hacking group Killnet has started targeting Lithuanian state websites (credit: Getty)

State and private websites in Lithuania were attacked this week by a group of Russian hackers known as Killnet.

The hackers who had previously challenged Anonymous said they were in retaliation for Lithuania’s decision to suspend the transport of some products to Kaliningrad exclusions from Russia under the EU sanctions.

Lithuanian tax authorities said all data was safe, but all activities were suspended due to the unusually large connection to the system.

“The main targets are national agencies, transport facilities and media websites,” Deputy Defense Minister Margiris Abkevisius said.

The new front line of cyber warfare is another sign that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February has worsened relations between NATO member Lithuania and neighboring Russia.

The Russian hacking group Killnet claims responsibility for what is known as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS).

“The attack will continue until Lithuania lifts the blockade,” a Kilnett spokesman said. “We’ve destroyed 1,652 web resources, and that’s all so far.”

Kaliningrad is located between the EU and NATO member countries Poland and Lithuania and supplies the territory of Lithuania by rail.

Lithuania already started showing signs of an attack on June 21, Abukevicius said.

Demonstrators will take part in a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine on March 24, 2022 at the Independence Square in front of the Parliament building in Vilnius, Lithuania. ).

Demonstrators protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in front of Parliament Square at Independence Square in Vilnius, Lithuania (credit: Getty)

On June 22, a Russian Security Council spokesman vowed to retaliate against the blockade, saying it “has a serious negative impact on the Lithuanian population.”

“Attacks of similar or higher intensity are very likely to continue, especially in the transport, energy and finance sectors,” Lithuania’s National Cyber ​​Security Center said in a statement.

According to the center, some of the injured had a secure network used by state agencies.

EU foreign policy director Josep Borrell said last week that Lithuania was “using only EU sanctions” to stop sending certain products to Kaliningrad, taking a unilateral decision.