A previously unidentified Russian hacking organization was responsible for cyberattacks last year targeting the networks of Dutch police, NATO, and several European nations, according to Dutch intelligence agencies’ announcement on Tuesday.

The group, which security experts have dubbed “Laundry Bear,” is believed to have received backing from the Russian government, as stated in a joint letter to the parliament from the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service and the Military Intelligence and Security Service.

“The cyberattacks against Dutch entities are part of a broader international cyber threat posed by the hacker collective,” they noted in a statement outlining their investigation into the incidents.

This group had been operating stealthily until it was identified while executing a hacking mission in September 2024, during which they successfully accessed sensitive information pertaining to Dutch police officials.

Additionally, Laundry Bear has been implicated in cyber-espionage activities targeting firms that manufacture advanced technologies, which Russia struggles to obtain due to Western sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.

“The probe has also uncovered that Laundry Bear has been carrying out cyber operations against Western governments and various institutions since at least 2024,” the statement indicated.

Furthermore, it highlighted that the group’s efforts were aimed at acquiring information on “the procurement and production of military supplies by Western governments, along with arms deliveries to Ukraine.”