Washington (CNN) The US, UK, and Georgia accused the Russian military Thursday of being behind a major 2019 cyber attack on Georgia that disrupted "several thousand Georgian government and privately-run websites and interrupted the broadcast of at least two major television stations."

"On October 28, 2019, the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) Main Center for Special Technologies (GTsST, also known as Unit 74455 and Sandworm) carried out a widespread disruptive cyber attack against the country of Georgia," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

"The United States calls on Russia to cease this behavior in Georgia and elsewhere," Pompeo said, adding, "We also pledge our support to Georgia and its people in enhancing their cybersecurity and countering malicious cyber actors."

Russian cyber attacks are seen by the US as part of a broader Moscow strategy of destabilizing its neighbors, an element of its "hybrid warfare" tactics, which have involved a broad range of clandestine activity, including using disinformation campaigns and private military contractors and separatists armed and directed by the Kremlin.

"The US Government position has been clear, we will defend our partners' and allies' core interests and hold the Russian Federation accountable for these destabilizing activities," Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Carla Gleason told CNN in a statement.

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