First-ever EU cyber sanctions hit Russian, Chinese, North Koreans

The European Union has imposed its first-ever sanctions over cyberattacks, slapping them on alleged Russian military agents, Chinese cyber spies and organisations including a North Korean firm.

The six people and three groups hit with sanctions include Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency. EU headquarters blamed them in a statement for the 2017 WannaCry ransomware and NotPetya malware attacks and the Cloud Hopper cyberespionage campaign.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday the sanctions are a travel ban and asset freeze to natural persons and an asset freeze to entities or bodies. It is also prohibited to directly or indirectly make funds available to listed individuals and entities or bodies.