Ukrainian hackers launched a large-scale attack on Russian state media company VGTRK on October 7, coinciding with President Vladimir Putin’s 72nd birthday.
The attack, described as “unprecedented” by Kremlin officials, disrupted the online broadcasting and streaming services of major television and radio channels, including Rossiya-1, Rossiya-24, and Kultura, as well as radio stations such as Vesti FM and Mayak.
The cyberattack, claimed by the pro-Ukrainian hacker group “Sudo rm-RF,” targeted VGTRK’s digital infrastructure, causing widespread disruptions.
According to reports, the hackers erased data from the company’s servers, including backups, and disabled internal services such as telephones and internet connections.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the attack and stated that specialists were working to determine the perpetrators and mitigate the consequences of the “malicious interference.”
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova blamed the “collective West” for the attack, labeling it part of a “hybrid war” against Russia.
She vowed to raise the issue internationally, including with the United Nations and UNESCO.
The attack is the latest in a series of cyberattacks targeting Russian media outlets, which have become a common tactic in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
In recent months, Russian hackers have also targeted Ukrainian media outlets, broadcasting fake news and propaganda.
The Ukrainian government has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, but a Ukrainian law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Ukrainian hackers were behind the attack.
“Ukrainian hackers congratulated Putin on his birthday by carrying out a large-scale attack on the all-Russian state television and radio broadcasting company,” the official said.
The attack highlights the increasing use of cyber warfare in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian cybersecurity officials have reported a significant increase in cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, including energy and defense sectors.
The attacks have been attributed to various threat actors, including Russian state-sponsored hacking groups such as Gamaredon and UAC-0184.
The incident also underscores the growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has exacerbated.
The attack is seen as a symbolic gesture, targeting Putin’s birthday and highlighting the Ukrainian government’s determination to disrupt Russian operations.
As the conflict continues to escalate, it is likely that cyberattacks will remain a key tactic in the ongoing information war between Ukraine and Russia.
The international community will be watching closely to see how the situation develops and how the two countries respond to the increasing use of cyber warfare.
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