Ukrainian Defenders Report Rise in Russian Cyberattacks www.databreachtoday.com/ukrainian…

Russia has increased the tempo of its cyber operations targeting Ukraine, say cyber defenders in war-buffeted Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Computer Emergency Response Team responded to approximately 3,000 cybersecurity incidents in the first half of this year, up from 2,580 in the latter half of 2024, says a new report from CERT-UA, a component of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection bureau.

Included in that number is a major attack in March against Ukrainian Railways, attributed to Unit 74455 of Russia’s General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate, a cyberwarfare threat actor popularly known as Sandworm. The attack knocked out the online ticketing system, causing long lines at railway stations. Rail has become a principal mode of travel in Ukraine since the Kremlin launched an invasion in February 2022, grounding commercial aviation from fear of missile and fighter jet attack.

Despite the catalog of identified attacks, the actual number is likely to be higher since CERT-UA can’t account for undetected breaches.

The Kremlin’s targets are also constant from year to year. About one-third of all attacks targeted local authorities, one-fifth the military or government agencies and 5% the country’s energy sector, said the SSCIP.