Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Thwart Thousands of Cyberattacks in Russia's War
Pro-Ukrainian hackers have been targeting Russian government agencies and businesses since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, gathering secret information and passing it on to Ukrainian security and intelligence forces. Discrepancies exist in reported breakthroughs and leaks obtained over the past 20 months, with Russian digital watchdog Roskomnadzor identifying 150 major leaks and cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab reporting 168 leaks. Hackers closely cooperate with Ukrainian intelligence services and aim to acquire data useful for Ukrainian security forces. Russia's susceptibility to hacking is increased by its reliance on Western technologies and the limited availability of anti-hacking solutions due to economic sanctions. Russia's efforts to fight hackers are limited, with the responsibility falling on Roskomnadzor, which lacks resources and the law providing little real help. The Ministry of Digital Development is preparing a bill to increase fines for data breaches, but businesses fear officials may use it for personal interests.