Montenegro wrestles with massive cyberattack, Russia blamed

Konjevic speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Podgorica, Montenegro, on Sept 7, 2022. At the government headquarters in NATO- member Montenegro, computers are unplugged, internet is offline and the main state websites are down. The blackout comes amid a massive cyberattack against the small Balkan state which officials say bears the hallmarks of Russian hackers and its security services. — AP

PODGORICA, Montenegro: At the government headquarters in NATO-member Montenegro, the computers are unplugged, the Internet is switched off and the state’s main websites are down. The blackout comes amid a massive cyberattack against the small Balkan state which officials say bears the hallmark of pro-Russian hackers and its security services.

The coordinated attack that started around Aug 20 crippled online government information platforms and put Montenegro’s essential infrastructure, including banking, water and electricity power systems, at high risk.