Retaliatory Attack by Ukrainian Hackers on a Russian Telecommunications Company

On Tuesday, January 9, hackers from a Ukrainian security service responded to a cyberattack by Russia on the Ukrainian telecommunications giant 'Kyivstar' by hacking into the computer systems of an internet provider in Moscow. This hacker group, known by the alias 'Blackjack', has a history of collaboration with the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). According to Reuters, a significant volume of data from a Russian telecommunications company was deleted during this digital operation. 'Blackjack' managed to hack 20 terabytes of data from 'Telecom M-9', a small internet and television service provider in the Russian capital, which led to internet outages in parts of Moscow. A source quoted by the hackers stated that this digital intrusion was a precursor to a larger cyberattack. They emphasized that this operation would be a 'serious retaliation for Kyivstar', although they did not specify when the hack would occur. According to Reuters, the director of 'Telecom M-9' declined to comment on the cyberattack, but the company's website remained online despite the hackers' claims of having hacked it. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency (GUR) announced late on Monday, January 8, that it had gained access to a large volume of classified Russian military data. This information was obtained from the special technology center of a sanctioned Russian company that produces Orlan drones and a range of intelligence equipment. 'Kyivstar', the largest mobile network operator in Ukraine, was taken offline last month by Russian hackers, which appeared to be the largest cyberattack since the beginning of the Moscow war against Ukraine in March 2022. Ilya Vitiuk, head of the cybersecurity department of the Ukrainian Security Service, told Reuters that Russian hackers had infiltrated 'Kyivstar's' systems months before the attack. He stated that this hack caused 'catastrophic' damage to the telecommunications systems of the company. 'Kyivstar' is the largest telecommunications operator in Ukraine among the three existing operators and covers over one million Ukrainians living in small towns and villages who have no access to other service providers. Following the cyberattack on Kyivstar, people rushed to buy other SIM cards, creating long lines. A spokesperson for the company said that ATMs using 'Kyivstar' SIM cards for internet access also went offline, and air raid sirens, which sound during missile and drone attacks, malfunctioned in some areas. He noted that this attack had little effect on the Ukrainian army as the military does not rely on telecommunications operators. Reuters: Russian hackers had access to the Ukrainian telecommunications system for months. Russian-linked hackers claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on the Ukrainian mobile network.