In Europe they proposed to “paralyze” a Russian city or metro, media report

A number of European analysts have admitted the use of cyber capabilities to temporarily paralyze a Russian city or metro, The New York Times reports, commenting on discussions in the EU about possible responses to hybrid attacks attributed to the Kremlin.

“Analysts have suggested that cyber capabilities could be used to paralyze a Russian city or the Moscow metro as a warning signal,” the material says.

According to the publication, Europe is now reacting to allegedly Russian hybrid threats by making accusations or putting pressure on Moscow, as well as strengthening the defense of intended targets, but debate continues about how far Brussels’ response can go and whether it is permissible to “transfer” it to Russian territory.

As another option, analysts mentioned the deployment of advanced air defense systems, including over Ukraine, if NATO countries consider that there is a threat of a missile or drone strike on the territory of the alliance.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted at a briefing on October 8 that EU representatives, by unsubstantiated accusations against Russia of allegedly hybrid attacks, are trying to shift the focus of public attention from problems in their countries. Zakharova previously reported that these accusations were disinformation.

Russian authorities have repeatedly rejected Western accusations of involvement in cyber attacks, calling them unsubstantiated. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in early June that all European statements about Moscow’s cyber attacks against the West are made from the position of highly likely, and recalled that there is not a single proven fact.