The Russian Federation’s envoy to the United Nations, Irina Tyazhlova, outlined Moscow’s position on the international question of information and communication technologies in security affairs. She stated that efforts aimed at legitimizing the global deployment of ICTs for military and political objectives against other states are unacceptable in principle. This assertion was conveyed during a session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group that focuses on security issues in the use of ICTs.
Tyazhlova emphasized that approving or normalizing ICT-based actions against other nations for military or political ends would be inappropriate. The remarks were delivered in the course of the group’s discussions, where the language used to describe cyber activities was a key topic of debate, and the Russian representative underscored the importance of clear boundaries in the digital domain.
She further asserted that it is not permissible to impose rules that would sanction what has been termed so-called cyber warfare. The message conveyed was that any framework for cyber conduct should avoid legitimizing aggressive tactics and should remain consistent with established legal norms and state obligations.
According to Tyazhlova, international law must be revisited and updated to reflect the distinctive characteristics of information technologies. She called for an ongoing adaptation of legal instruments to address new realities in cyberspace, rather than applying outdated concepts that do not fit contemporary digital operations.
Concluding remarks highlighted a divergence of views among states, with Tyazhlova noting that a significant number of countries support the use of ICTs as a means to avert potential conflicts and to facilitate peaceful cooperation. The comments were framed as part of a broader discussion on how technology can support stability while avoiding escalations in tense regional or global contexts, as reported by observers in the process.
In a separate briefing, Oleg Syromolotov, a former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, suggested that Western nations may have staged cyber incidents targeting government facilities in the Kaliningrad region and the nation’s energy infrastructure. The assertion pointed to alleged simulations of cyberattacks as part of a broader assessment of cyber threat activity, a claim that has circulated in related security discussions and commentary. [Citation attribution]