Hackers from Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR) launched a massive cyberattack on the servers of a Russian internet provider on August 24, blocking “dozens” of online platforms belonging to Russian industrial facilities, a military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent newspaper.
The latest attack affected at least 33 servers at industrial facilities and 283 office computers, took down 21 websites and destroyed 15 cloud and file storage sites. Sources said Ukrainian hackers also left pro-Ukraine messages on the affected online platforms.
Russian users complained about outages at digital service provider Rostelecom, mobile operators MTC and Beeline, as well as unstable Internet connections at multinational technology company Yandex and its services.
The Russian platforms that were targeted in the cyberattack are aiding and funding Russia’s war against Ukraine, the sources added.
Dozens of services belonging to industrial facilities supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex were also attacked.
Ukrainian hackers targeted the network infrastructure of factories and companies that manufacture equipment for Russian law enforcement agencies, aircraft and helicopter parts, and supply hardware, software, servers, processors and other products.
The cloud and file storage of Russian Internet providers were hit, including one of Russia’s most-visited Internet portals, Mail.ru. According to sources, at least 24 websites of lighting equipment, diesel power plants, hosting providers and companies that manufacture bulletproof products were also affected.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Ukrainian hackers have been regularly attacking Russian online platforms.
A massive cyberattack in late June knocked out communications for at least 250,000 consumers in the occupied Crimea and other areas controlled by Russia, a military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent.
The June attack reportedly affected both consumer and operator networks that used affected infrastructure in Russian-occupied territory, with a representative for a Russian operator calling it “the most powerful DDoS attack we’ve ever seen,” HUR reported.
In July, Ukrainian military intelligence launched a cyber attack on Russia’s banking system, targeting several major banks, leaving Russian bank customers unable to withdraw cash and seeing their debit and credit cards instantly blocked when trying to use ATMs.
Russian phishing attacks target Kremlin’s opponents at home and abroad
The campaign targeted Russian oppositionists, NGOs and Western diplomats, including former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer.
