Sweden reports Russia-linked hackers targeted power plant

According to TechCrunch, the Swedish government revealed that hackers linked to Russian intelligence services attempted to disrupt operations at a Swedish thermal power plant early in 2025. While the attack was unsuccessful due to built-in protections, it highlights a concerning escalation in hybrid threats.

Swedish Minister of Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin stated that pro-Russian groups are shifting from denial-of-service attacks to more destructive cyber operations targeting European organizations. Although the specific power plant was not named, the incident is part of a pattern of alleged Russian-backed cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. Previous incidents include an attempted power grid disruption in Poland in December 2025, the hijacking of a dam in Norway earlier that year, and a 2024 attack that left hundreds of apartments without heat in Lviv, Ukraine, with some evidence pointing to Russian actors.

These escalating hybrid attacks, extending beyond cyberspace to impact physical infrastructure, underscore a growing threat to public services and energy security across Europe.

Source: TechCrunch