Modern warfare does not only take place on the battlefield. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine for more than 11 years has evolved towards a hybrid war in full rule, so both contenders are resorting to both conventional strategies and unconventional tactics. Among the latter are the use of propaganda, disinformation, support for separatist movements or cyber attacks.
Since the last stage of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began on February 22, 2022 (its beginning occurred in November 2013 with the Euromaidan protests), both countries, as well as their allies, have launched cyberattacks against their opponent that almost always They seek to damage one or more critical infrastructures. This is precisely what Russia orchestrated just a few hours ago, during the night of December 19. And it was not just another cyber attack.
Russia’s biggest cyber attack
Olha Stefanishyna, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, has very clearly described the scale of the cyber attack carried out by Russia: “Today there was the largest external cyber attack in recent times against Ukrainian state records. As a result of this targeted attack the functioning of the unified and state registries, which are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, has been temporarily suspended.”
Critical infrastructures are those necessary for the proper functioning of a country.
If the target of this cyberattack had been a nuclear power plant, the electrical grid or an airport, we would all immediately identify it as a critical infrastructure, and therefore necessary to the proper functioning of the country. However, state registration is also a critical infrastructure for Ukraine, especially in the current situation. “This attack was carried out by the Russians to disrupt the operation of a critically important infrastructure for our country,” said Stefanishyna.
“After completing the restoration, a comprehensive analysis of the attack will be carried out to increase protection against similar threats in the future,” anticipated the Ukrainian deputy prime minister. The state registry is very important for the country led by Volodymyr Zelensky because it collects vital information about Ukrainian citizens, such as births, deaths, marriages or the registration of their property.
In times of peace this record is essential, but during a war the information it contains is critical. Stefanishyna has revealed that the full restoration of operations of this resource will be resumed within two weeks, but the offices in charge of its maintenance will offer some services starting today friday. This event reminds us of the damage that cyberattacks can do even if they are not directed directly against a country’s energy infrastructure, transportation network or telecommunications. Everything seems to indicate that Russia wanted to alter the functioning of Ukraine in an unprecedented way, and to a certain extent it has succeeded.
Image | Tima Miroshnichenko
More information | Reuters
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