Cyberattack Disrupts Venezuela’s PDVSA, Operations Reportedly Unaffected Despite System Outages Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, confirmed a cyberattack targeting its systems, though officials claimed operations remained unaffected. Multiple sources, however, reported widespread disruptions, including suspended oil cargo deliveries and a shutdown of administrative systems, forcing employees to revert to manual record-keeping. PDVSA and the Venezuelan oil ministry attributed the attack to "foreign interests," explicitly blaming the U.S. in an effort to destabilize the country’s energy sector. A company insider suggested the incident was a ransomware attack, which led to containment measures that paralyzed digital infrastructure. The cyberattack occurs amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. Recent U.S. actions include a heightened military presence in the Caribbean, strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels, and the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker carrying 1.85 million barrels of crude—the first such interception since 2019 sanctions. The Venezuelan government has framed these moves as part of a broader U.S. strategy to exert control over the country’s oil resources and push for regime change.