The Dutch government identified a Russian hacking ring named Laundry Bear as being responsible for cyberattacks on the Dutch police, NATO and several European countries in late May 2025. AFP/GETTY IMAGES
REUTERS
A previously unknown Russian hacking group was behind attacks last year on the networks of the Dutch police, NATO and several European countries, Dutch intelligence agencies said in late May 2025. The group, nicknamed Laundry Bear by the security agencies, most likely was supported by the Russian state, the Dutch General Intelligence Agency and Military Agency said in a joint letter to Parliament on May 27. “The cyberattacks against Dutch institutions are part of a larger international cyber threat posed by the hacker group,” they said in a statement detailing the findings of their probe into the incidents.
The group operated under the radar until it was discovered conducting a hacking operation in September 2024 in which it successfully gained access to the confidential details of Dutch police officials. Laundry Bear also conducted cyber espionage against companies that produce high-end technologies that Russia has difficulty accessing due to Western sanctions over the Ukraine war, the statement said. “The investigation also reveals that Laundry Bear has been responsible for cyber operations against Western governments and other institutions since at least 2024,” the statement added. It said the group had sought to acquire information related to “the procurement and production of military equipment by Western governments and Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.”
Erik Akerboom, chief of the domestic intelligence agency AIVD, said that outlining the group’s work means that “not only governments but also manufacturers, suppliers and other targets can arm themselves against this form of espionage. This limits Laundry Bear’s chances of success, and digital networks can be better protected.”
The attack discovered in the Netherlands is one of a growing number around the world. The U.S. National Security Agency said hackers working for Russian military intelligence targeted Western technology and logistics companies involved in shipping assistance to Ukraine. The French government also recently accused a hacking group linked to Russian military intelligence of cyberattacks over three years, targeting the Paris Olympics, French government agencies and companies.
Information from The Associated Press was used for this story.