An Assessment: Pre-Invasion Attacks On Ukraine

Two months after the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, evidence is emerging about the extent and timing of a string of cyber attacks launched just before the invasion began. 

The United Kingdom, United States and European Union have said that Russia was behind a cyber attack that disrupted satellite internet connections across Europe on February 24. The attack left tens of thousands of home broadband modems in Ukraine and across Europe "inoperable," as well as knocking out thousands of wind turbines operated by electricity generators in Germany, according to the UK Foreign Office.

Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) assesses that the Russian Military Intelligence was almost certainly involved in the 13 January defacement of Ukrainian government websites and the deployment of destructive Whispergate malware

The NCSC also assesses that it is almost certain Russia was responsible for the subsequent cyber attack on  Viasat satellite services which began approximately 1 hour before Russia launched its major invasion of Ukraine.

Although the primary target is believed to have been the Ukrainian military, other customers were affected, including personal and commercial Internet users across Europe. 

Viasat has said that “tens of thousands of terminals have been damaged, made inoperable and cannot be repaired.” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said, “This is clear and shocking evidence of a deliberate and malicious attack by Russia against Ukraine which had significant consequences on ordinary people and businesses in Ukraine and across Europe. “We will continue to call out Russia’s malign behaviour and unprovoked aggression across land, sea and cyberspace, and ensure it faces severe consequences.”

This announcement came following a meeting of cyber security leaders from the Five Eyes, EU and international allies met at the NCSC’s Cyber UK Conference discuss the cyber threats facing the world. The Five Eyes had already called for immediate action by critical infrastructure organisations to “prepare for and mitigate potential cyber threats”.

Britain has previously sanctioned the Russian the GRU intelligence agency after their botched assassinations of Russian dissidents in Salisbury in 2018 and froze more than £940 billion worth of bank assets and £117 billion in personal worth from Russian citizens connected to President Putin. 

Gov.UK:     CyberUK:     Independent:       Euronews:  

You Might Also Read:

The Ukraine War - By Satellite, Internet & Phone:

 

« Bitcoin Tanks
The Big Cyber Security Threats That You Can Prepare For »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Our Supplier Directory lists 6,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of completely automatic, fully encrypted online, cloud backup.

UK Cyber Week Expo & Conference

UK Cyber Week Expo & Conference

Award-winning event organiser ROAR B2B announces the launch of UK Cyber Week and its inaugural event on 4 and 5 April 2023 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS)

Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS)

CEPIS is the representative body of national informatics associations throughout Europe and represent over 450,000 ICT and informatics professionals in 32 countries.

Cyber Investing Summit

Cyber Investing Summit

Cyber Investing Summit is an all-day conference focusing on investing in the cyber security industry.

Cybersixgill

Cybersixgill

Cybersixgill was founded with a single mission: to protect organizations against malicious cyber attacks that come from the deep and dark web, before they materialize.

Bottomline Technologies

Bottomline Technologies

Bottomline Technologies is an innovator in business payment automation technology, helping companies make complex business payments simple, smart and secure.

Segment

Segment

Segment provides a range of services and solutions for all companies which have a need for data protection and IT security.

Conduent

Conduent

Conduent delivers mission-critical technology services and solutions on behalf of businesses and governments. Solution areas include digital risk and compliance.

Paladin Capital Group

Paladin Capital Group

Paladin is a leading global investor that supports and grows the world’s most innovative cyber companies.

Mendoza Ventures

Mendoza Ventures

Mendoza Ventures is a venture capital fund focusing on pre-seed Artificial Intelligence (AI), Fintech, and Cybersecurity startups.

Griffiss Institute (GI)

Griffiss Institute (GI)

GI's primary role is to advocate and facilitate the co-operation of private industry, academia, and the Air Force Research Laboratory in developing solutions to critical cyber security problems.

DMARC360

DMARC360

DMARC360 analyzes your email traffic patterns and sources, rapidly deploys email authentication protocols and monitors your email domains with automated recommendations and incident response.

Krypsis

Krypsis

Krypsys is an information security company with a focus on helping you defend your information and data against emerging security threats.

Systems Assessment Bureau (SAB)

Systems Assessment Bureau (SAB)

Systems Assessment Bureau is an internationally recognized ISO Certification Body with a unique vision of “Excel together with global standards”.

Aegis Security

Aegis Security

Aegis Security helps clients to secure their systems against potential threats through pre-emptive measures, such as security assessments, and cutting-edge solutions to security challenges.

Lupovis

Lupovis

Lupovis is an AI-based deception solution that deploys active decoys turning your network from a flock of sheep to a pack of wolves where the hunter becomes the hunted.

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

Dutch Research Council (NWO)

Dutch Research Council (NWO)

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) is one of the most important science-funding bodies in the Netherlands and ensures quality and innovation in science.