Major Cyber Attack Paralyzes Kyivstar – Ukraine’s Largest Telecom Operator

Major Cyber Attack Paralyzes Kyivstar - Ukraine's Largest Telecom Operator

December 13, 2023 at 05:36AM

Ukraine’s largest telecom operator, Kyivstar, was hit by a cyber attack, causing disruptions in mobile and internet services. The attack, linked to the conflict with Russia, led to nationwide impacts. While the company works to restore services, it assured compensation for affected users and warned against potential scams. Meanwhile, pro-Russia hacker group KillNet claimed responsibility, amid escalating cyber activities between Ukraine and Russia.

From the meeting notes provided, it appears that the Ukrainian telecom operator Kyivstar recently experienced a significant cyber attack. The attack disrupted mobile and internet services for both individual and corporate customers. The company, owned by multinational telecommunication services company VEON, attributed the cyberattack to the ongoing conflict with Russia. While efforts are underway to restore services, the telco remains largely offline.

Kyivstar has assured its subscribers and corporate clients that they will receive compensation for the impact caused by the hacking attack. Additionally, the company has warned users to be vigilant about potential scams aimed at obtaining personal information. It’s noteworthy that a pro-Russia hacktivist group called KillNet claimed responsibility for the attack, but its assertions lack supporting evidence. Moreover, there have been developments involving the identification of KillNet’s leader and an announcement of a change in leadership and strategy.

In a related development, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR) has reported a successful hack into Russia’s Federal Taxation Service (FNS) servers. The agency claims to have infiltrated well-protected servers, including those in the temporarily occupied Crimea. However, a Russian lawmaker has dismissed these claims as fictional, suggesting that they are part of Ukraine’s response to the issues with Kyivstar.

Overall, the meeting notes provide an overview of the cyber attack on Kyivstar, the response from the company, the claims of responsibility by KillNet, and the reported hacking of FNS servers by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, along with the Russian response to these claims.

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