Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Target Russian State Media Company in Cyber Attack
Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a cyber attack that targeted Russia state media company VGTRK and disrupted its operations, according to reports from Bloomberg and Reuters.
The incident took place on the night of October 7, VGTRK confirmed, describing it as an “unprecedented hacker attack.” However, it said “no significant damage” was caused and that everything was working normally despite attempts to interrupt radio and TV broadcasts.
That said, Russian media outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the hackers wiped “everything” from the company’s servers, including backups, citing an anonymous source.
A source told Reuters that “Ukrainian hackers ‘congratulated’ Putin on his birthday by carrying out a large-scale attack on the all-Russian state television and radio broadcasting company.”
Investigation and Background
The attack is believed to be the work of a pro-Ukrainian hacker group called Sudo rm-RF. The Russian government has since said an investigation into the attack is ongoing and that it “aligns with the anti-Russian agenda of the West.”
The development comes amid continued cyber attacks targeting both Russia and Ukraine against the backdrop of the Russo-Ukrainian war that commenced in February 2022.
Cybersecurity Trends
Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP) reported an increase in cyber attacks targeting security, defense, and energy sectors, with 1,739 incidents registered in the first half of 2024, a 19% increase from the previous half.
“Hackers are no longer just exploiting vulnerabilities wherever they can but are now targeting areas critical to the success and support of their military operations,” said Yevheniya Nakonechna, head of State Cyber Protection Centre of the SSSCIP.
SSSCIP has highlighted various threat actors and their activities, including a China-linked cyber espionage actor and a Russian state-sponsored hacking group.
Threat Actor Focus on Ukraine
One notable threat actor is Gamaredon, a Russian hacking crew known for deploying malicious tools against Ukrainian targets. Despite the conflict escalation, Gamaredon’s activities have remained consistent over the years.
Security researcher Zoltán Rusnák highlighted Gamaredon’s aggressiveness and persistence despite the simplicity of its tools.
“Gamaredon’s aggressive approach and persistence make it a significant threat,” Rusnák said.