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Russian Hacking Group Claims Attack That Took Out Ukrainian Mobile Operator

by VOA News

   A Russian hacking group, believed by Ukraine to be working with
   Russia's military intelligence, has claimed responsibility for a
   cyberattack that targeted Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest mobile operator.

   Ukraine's security service, or SBU, said on Wednesday that they are
   working to repair Kyivstar's network.

   The attack occurred on Tuesday and took out Kyivstar's network with its
   24 million users, rendering them unable to talk on the phone or receive
   raid alert notifications, following a ballistic missile attack that
   wounded over 50 people.

   Watch related video report by Lesia Bakalets:

   The hacking group, Solntsepyok, claimed responsibility for the attack
   on the social media platform Telegram, where it also posted screenshots
   displaying how it was able to access Kyivstar's servers.

   "We attacked Kyivstar because the company provides communications to
   the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as state bodies and Ukraine's
   security forces," the Telegram post said. "To the other offices helping
   the Ukrainian Armed Forces: be prepared!"

   Ukraine had previously identified Solntsepyok as a front for the
   Russian hacking group "sandworm," which is linked to Russia's main
   directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian
   Federation, or GRU military intelligence agency.

   "Sandworm is Moscow's weapon of choice for cyberattacks. No other actor
   comes close in terms of the imminent threat they pose to critical
   infrastructure in Ukraine," said John Hultquist, who heads threat
   analysis at Google's Mandiant Intelligence.

   Russia has denied any involvement in the cyberattacks.

   Solntsepyok said it destroyed 10,000 computers and 4,000 servers in the
   attacks, claims which are refuted by Kyivstar.

   Some information in this report came from Reuters and Agence
   France-Presse.