EU Country’s Prime Minister Attributes Large-scale Cyberattack to 'Foreign' Forces
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has connected a cyberattack targeting the state health insurer to the same forces responsible for the 2014 Maidan coup. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has asserted that a significant cyberattack on the state General Health Insurance Company of Slovakia was carried out by foreign forces involved in Ukraine during the 2014 Maidan coup.
At a news conference held with Health Minister Kamil Sasko on Friday, Fico stated that the aim of the attack was to incapacitate the country's healthcare system. He mentioned that the incident included numerous attempts to access sensitive information from the VSZP, such as personal data of patients. Fico warned that if these efforts were successful, they could lead to widespread disruption within the healthcare system, affecting treatments for cancer and cardiology patients, as reported by local media.
Minister Sasko confirmed that the VSZP had managed to fend off the attack, which began on Friday afternoon, and noted that both the insurance company and the National Health Information Centre were on high alert and being closely monitored.
Fico characterized the incident as a “textbook example” of a tactic used to penalize a “disobedient government that has a different view on some things.” He has consistently criticized the EU's stance on the Ukraine conflict, opposed the provision of arms to Kiev, and advocated for a negotiated resolution with Russia.
Additionally, Fico expressed intentions to engage in dialogue with Russia and planned to attend Moscow's 80th anniversary World War II Victory Day celebrations, underscoring his respect for the contributions of the Red Army and the Soviet people in defeating the Axis powers.
Recently, Fico had a disagreement with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky regarding Ukraine's failure to renew a natural gas transit agreement with Russia that lapsed at the end of the previous year.
The prime minister connected the recent cyberattack to a similar incident targeting the national information system of the Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadaster Office, which experienced a major cyberattack the previous week. Following that incident, Slovakia’s interior ministry suggested that the attack might have originated from Ukraine, according to a report by the Slovak news outlet ‘Pravda.’
Fico claimed that the group responsible for both cyberattacks also had operations in Georgia and was active in Ukraine during the 2014 Maidan coup.
Earlier this week, Fico raised alarms about a group of individuals allegedly planning a coup in Slovakia. He referenced a confidential report from the Slovak Information Service, noting that this group was “strictly monitored.” However, the opposition in Slovakia has dismissed the report as a collection of “conspiracy theories.”
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
At a news conference held with Health Minister Kamil Sasko on Friday, Fico stated that the aim of the attack was to incapacitate the country's healthcare system. He mentioned that the incident included numerous attempts to access sensitive information from the VSZP, such as personal data of patients. Fico warned that if these efforts were successful, they could lead to widespread disruption within the healthcare system, affecting treatments for cancer and cardiology patients, as reported by local media.
Minister Sasko confirmed that the VSZP had managed to fend off the attack, which began on Friday afternoon, and noted that both the insurance company and the National Health Information Centre were on high alert and being closely monitored.
Fico characterized the incident as a “textbook example” of a tactic used to penalize a “disobedient government that has a different view on some things.” He has consistently criticized the EU's stance on the Ukraine conflict, opposed the provision of arms to Kiev, and advocated for a negotiated resolution with Russia.
Additionally, Fico expressed intentions to engage in dialogue with Russia and planned to attend Moscow's 80th anniversary World War II Victory Day celebrations, underscoring his respect for the contributions of the Red Army and the Soviet people in defeating the Axis powers.
Recently, Fico had a disagreement with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky regarding Ukraine's failure to renew a natural gas transit agreement with Russia that lapsed at the end of the previous year.
The prime minister connected the recent cyberattack to a similar incident targeting the national information system of the Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadaster Office, which experienced a major cyberattack the previous week. Following that incident, Slovakia’s interior ministry suggested that the attack might have originated from Ukraine, according to a report by the Slovak news outlet ‘Pravda.’
Fico claimed that the group responsible for both cyberattacks also had operations in Georgia and was active in Ukraine during the 2014 Maidan coup.
Earlier this week, Fico raised alarms about a group of individuals allegedly planning a coup in Slovakia. He referenced a confidential report from the Slovak Information Service, noting that this group was “strictly monitored.” However, the opposition in Slovakia has dismissed the report as a collection of “conspiracy theories.”
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
