Ukrainian hackers disrupted the online broadcasts of more than 20 Russian state television and radio channels on Monday, temporarily halting Russia’s state-run media services. The operation coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 72nd birthday, adding a symbolic layer to it.
While the claim has not been independently verified, a Kyiv official with knowledge of the attack provided details, preferring anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, reports Bloomberg.
Among the targeted broadcasters were prominent Russian news services such as Rossiya 24, a key channel for state news dissemination. The extent of the disruption also reached radio stations, including Vesti FM and Mayak, significantly affecting the flow of information within Russia.
Russia’s state media holding company VGTRK described the cyberattack as ‘unprecedented.’ According to a report by the Tass news agency, VGTRK acknowledged the impact on major channels like Rossiya-1, Rossiya-24, and Kultura, confirming that online broadcasts were severely disrupted early Monday.
Specialists within the media group have since been working to restore services and identify the source of the breach.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the severity of the situation, stating that ‘colossal efforts’ were underway to mitigate the attack’s consequences. However, this breach highlights vulnerabilities in Russia’s digital infrastructure, especially its heavily controlled state media apparatus.
A pro-Ukrainian hacker collective, known as ‘Sudo rm-RF,’ has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has previously targeted Russian digital assets, showcasing its ability to penetrate critical systems and disrupt operations.
This latest attack reflects the ongoing cyber warfare between Ukraine and Russia, which has escalated since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The recent cyberattack on a Russian network demonstrates an escalation in Ukrainian hackers’ digital warfare tactics. While the total impact is still being assessed, this incident suggests a growing confidence among Ukrainian cyber operatives in their ability to disrupt Russian digital infrastructure.
The timing of the attack, occurring on the same day as Putin’s birthday, may indicate a deliberate attempt to deliver a symbolic blow, potentially exacerbating the already strained relations between Russia and Ukraine.
In September 2024, Russia invested 60 billion rubles in VPN blocking and content filtering. In the same month, 32 Russian-linked domains were seized in the US on charges of influencing US elections.
In August, Russian hackers were caught snooping on human rights groups, media outlets, and a former US ambassador to Ukraine in Eastern Europe.
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