WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 – The White House on Thursday blamed Russia for carrying out what it called “the most destructive and costly cyber-attack in history” when it had targeted Ukraine in June 2017.

The malware attack, the White House said, “was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to destabilize Ukraine.” In a rare rebuke of the Kremlin, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders threatened “international consequences.”

The cyberattack, known as “NotPetya,” affected the Ukrainian finance system and the airport in Kiev, among other sectors. The United Kingdom and Denmark have also blamed Russia.

“It was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to destabilize Ukraine and demonstrates ever more clearly Russia’s involvement in the ongoing conflict,” Huckabee Sanders said, the Observer reported.

The statement is a sharp departure from a president who has consistently denied Russia involvement in the 2016 election, even as intelligence agencies presented findings to the contrary. In recent weeks, however, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have sniped at one another over international policy.

After Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced a grand strategy toward Syria involving the ousting of Putin-aligned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Moscow turned a cold shoulder to Washington. Despite the White House’s decision to hold off on sanctions against the Kremlin, Putin called the administration’s released list of Russian businessmen and oligarchs “a hostile step” in late January.

After meeting with Russian intelligence officials the week before, CIA Director Mike Pompeo warned in a BBC interview that the United States would retaliate “in a way that is sufficiently robust” should Russia interfere in this year’s upcoming midterm elections.

U.S. intelligence officials echoed these sentiments during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday.

NotPetya has disabled operations in Ukraine’s central bank, the main airport in Kiev and Chernobyl’s nuclear facilities. Cyber-security experts warn that it was a test for future digital warfare to be employed against other countries. (ob/ez)