Finance
Poland says foiled cyberattack on nuclear centre may have come from iran
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
Poland says it thwarted a cyberattack on its National Centre for Nuclear Research, with initial probes suggesting Iran-linked origins, though authorities caution this could be intentional misdirection.
Poland Thwarts Cyberattack on Nuclear Research Centre, Investigates Iran Connection
Details of the Cyberattack on Poland's Nuclear Research Centre
Overview of the Incident
WARSAW, March 12 (Reuters) - Poland has foiled a cyberattack on its nuclear research centre and is examining signs that Iran may be behind it, the government said on Thursday, cautioning the indicators might be a deliberate misdirection to hide the attackers’ true location.
Poland says it has been the target of numerous cyberattacks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement.
Government Response and Security Measures
Minister for Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski told private broadcaster TVN24+ that the attack on Poland's National Centre for Nuclear Research had taken place "in the past few days".
"The attack may not have been on a huge scale, but there was an attempt to break through the security that was stopped. Appropriate services are already working", Gawkowski said, adding that the centre was safe.
Investigation into the Source of the Attack
"The first identifications of the entry vectors, i.e. those places from which (the centre) was attacked, are related to Iran," he said. "When there is final information and the services will check it, we will verify it, but there are many indications that it took place on the territory of Iran."
The Iranian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.
Background on the Nuclear Research Centre
The centre conducts research into nuclear energy, subatomic physics and related fields. Poland has no nuclear weapons and is building its first nuclear power plant.
Regional and International Context
Recent Tensions Involving Iran
The U.S. and Israel unleashed coordinated airstrikes on Iran on February 28, killing its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Geopolitical Repercussions
Tehran responded by hitting Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military installations, effectively halting oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz -- a conduit for roughly a fifth of the world’s LNG and petroleum.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •Poland foiled a recent cyber intrusion at its nuclear research facility, with early indicators pointing to Iran as the source, though verification is ongoing.
- •Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has faced a sharp uptick in cyber operations, with attacks increasing fivefold on military and critical systems. (polandinsight.com)
- •Poland has also recently endured major cyber threats targeting its energy infrastructure, including a December 2025 assault that nearly disrupted renewable energy operations, attributed to Russian-linked groups like Sandworm. ()
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Poland says foiled cyberattack on nuclear centre may have come from Iran
1What happened at Poland's nuclear research centre?
Poland foiled a cyberattack targeting its National Centre for Nuclear Research. The attack was stopped before any breach occurred.
2Who is suspected of being behind the cyberattack?
Initial investigations suggest Iran as a possible source, but Polish authorities warn this could be misdirection.