The hack attack which took place at 10.00 German time took down many German websites and left other sites periodically inaccessible. A group calling itself CyberBerkut claimed responsibility for the hack on its website cyber-berkut.org/en/. In a statement on its website it gave its reasons for blocking Chancellor Merkel and Bundestag’s websites,
That’s why we appeal all people and government of Germany to stop financial and political support of criminal regime in Kiev, which unleashed a bloody civil war. We are CyberBerkut! We will not forget! We will not forgive!” Chancellor Merkel’s spokesperson, Steffen Seibert confirmed that the chancellors website was indeed down and added that,”Our service provider’s data center is under a severe attack that has apparently been caused by a variety of external systems.” CyberBerkut have been active cyber hackers since the ouster of former pro-Russian Ukraine President Victor Yanukovich. In fact the ‘Berkut’ in their name is a reference to the riot squads used by the former president’s government. In the past they have hacked Nato websites in March, 2014 and Ukraine’s Central Election Commission website before the presidential elections in May 2014. They had leaked valuable information stored on the Election Commission website at that time.
