This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
A recent cyberattack, believed to be orchestrated by Russian state-backed hackers, has targeted Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, taking down the country’s state registers for at least two weeks. These registers, maintained by Ukraine’s Justice Ministry, are crucial for storing and providing access to essential data on citizens, businesses, and organizations. They also facilitate access to various public services online.
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, described the attack as the largest external cyberattack on the state registers in recent memory, adding that it was a significant blow to the nation’s online infrastructure. The attack is part of an ongoing series of cyber operations attributed to Russia, which has been targeting Ukrainian systems since its invasion in February 2022.
In response, the Justice Ministry took swift action to protect its systems, opting to take critical infrastructure offline temporarily. The immediate priority was to restore three key systems that manage information related to real estate ownership and serve private citizens and businesses. These systems are essential to Ukraine’s economic stability and day-to-day functioning.
Stefanishyna confirmed that the restoration process is expected to take at least two weeks, but access to limited services will be available during this period. She also warned that Russia might exploit the situation to spread misinformation and create panic, both within Ukraine and internationally.
The Justice Ministry has launched an investigation to better understand the nature of the attack and how it managed to disrupt such an essential service. The attack highlights the ongoing cyberwarfare between Russia and Ukraine, underscoring the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to digital threats, particularly in times of geopolitical conflict. As Ukraine works to recover from the incident, the country is reaffirming its commitment to strengthening its cyber defenses in the face of increasing cyber threats.
