Pro-Russian Hacker Group Targets Belgian Critical Infrastructure in Surge of DDoS Attacks In December, Belgium faced a sharp escalation in cyberattacks, with nearly 1,250 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) incidents recorded between December 2 and 18. The attacks, attributed to the pro-Russian hacker group DDoSia, primarily targeted federal institutions, critical infrastructure, and government bodies ahead of an EU Council summit, according to cybersecurity firm Secutec. While none of the attacks succeeded, they demonstrated a strategic shift toward disrupting essential services. Geert Baudewijns, CEO of Secutec, warned that the group had identified Belgium’s most vulnerable dependencies, including energy distribution linked to NATO headquarters and nuclear supply chains, which account for up to 50% of the country’s electricity production. Key targets included: - Government institutions (two-thirds of attacks), with the federal parliament hit 40 times, and the provinces of Limburg (45 attacks) and Antwerp (32 attacks). - Critical infrastructure, such as Brussels-based energy company Sibelga and nuclear supplier ASCO Industries. - Healthcare organizations, though specifics were not disclosed. Secutec reported a 190% increase in attacks compared to November, signaling a dangerous escalation as hackers expanded beyond public authorities to energy and nuclear sectors. The timing and focus suggest an intent to maximize national disruption during a period of heightened geopolitical significance.