Austrian Defense Minister Claudia Tanner announced today that Austria is preparing intensively for possible power outages during the winter, noting that power outages will affect other regions of the European Union, noting that Russian intelligence may be behind future power outages.
"The possibility of power outages in some parts of the European Union in the near future is very high, and the question is not if this will happen, but rather when it will happen," Tanner said in an interview with the German newspaper "Die Welt".
The risk of widespread blackouts has increased significantly due to the conflict in Ukraine, Tanner said, stressing that Vienna is preparing intensively for possible blackouts this winter.
Tanner believes that Russian intelligence may be behind future power outages, adding that "internet hackers' attacks on Western energy systems are one of the tools of hybrid warfare."
"We must not pretend that this is just a theory... We must prepare for power outages in Austria and Europe," she added.
The energy sector in Europe is facing an unprecedented crisis and a rise in electricity and gas prices. Especially after the launch of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine in late February, and the imposition of Western sanctions on Moscow
Source: agencies