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Influence operation

Star Blizzard UK 2019 trade-document hack-and-leak

UK-US trade documents leak

A hack-and-leak episode involving UK-US trade documents acquired through a compromise that the NCSC later attributed to Star Blizzard, a group assessed as subordinate to the Russian FSB's Centre 18. UK authorities separately assessed that Russian actors almost certainly promoted the leaked material online before the 2019 general election.

The public record separates two findings: the NCSC's later attribution of the compromise to Star Blizzard and the government's 2020 assessment of Russian amplification. The documents initially gained little or no traction, and the government said it found no evidence of a broad-spectrum Russian campaign against the election. The record does not establish altered ballots, counts or the election result.

Elections

Actors

Evidence Library

Official reportUK National Cyber Security CentreDecember 7, 2023New
UK and allies expose Star Blizzard political-interference campaign
OriginalArchive pending
Official reportUK National Cyber Security CentreNovember 3, 2020New
NCSC Annual Review 2020: foreign interference in the 2019 general election
OriginalArchive pending

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