On Thursday, January 13th, an extensive cyberattack occurred throughout numerous Ukraine government websites, rendering many inaccessible the following day. The attack caused widespread site interruptions with the message, “be afraid and expect the worst.” Ukraine officials have concluded that no employee personal information was accessed during the attack; however, there is rising concern that the strike foreshadowed Russian efforts for invasion.
Recently, Russian military forces have amassed around 100,000 troops close to the Ukraine border after conversations with western countries failed to appease Russian desires. The Russian government demanded NATO remove all military forces within Ukraine and other Eastern European nations to reduce contentious arms on their borders. NATO and Ukraine troops have been stationed along the border with Russia and have no plans of standing down until the increased Russian forces dissipate. With the continuous military stand-off between opposing troops, the cyber attack indicates possible alternative methods of aggression in the coming future.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, which was also disrupted by the cyber attack, has announced that it is too early to place definitive blame for the strike; nonetheless, due to the long history of suspected Russian cyberattacks against Ukraine infrastructure, Russian involvement is speculated. The forceful annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 was closely followed by numerous cyber attacks not only on the Ukraine government and officials but also public infrastructure, the most damaging being their electrical grids. Although Russia has denied involvement in these attacks, cyber security investigation has shown numerous Russian ties to multiple strikes within 2015. These attacks caused power shortages throughout considerable regions of Ukraine, resulting in about 225,000 people losing power for up to six hours in the lethal winter temperatures. Other cyberattacks during this time against locations such as hospitals and financial institutions have proven how damaging these assaults can be on civilians throughout the country, without needing a single soldier.
With the border between Russia and Ukraine rising in combative arms, the likelihood of a smooth invasion by Russian troops is unlikely. Therefore, the probability of Russian cyberattacks, similar to those in 2015, to weaken Ukraine’s government and people is likely to rise. With the use of cyber warfare in the upcoming months, Russian efforts would cause serious damage to the country of Ukraine, possibly resulting in civilian deaths. Western countries currently assisting along the border will have to support cyber security efforts to protect the people of Ukraine. While securing the border against Russian troops is critical, preserving safety and livelihood within the country must be prioritized as well. Keeping peace within the Ukraine borders must include a combination of external protection and internal support before, during, and after any possible upcoming cyber attacks. Western countries including the United States and England have the best intelligence organizations in the world; with their assistance, they could help in stopping future cyberattacks or aid in any necessary investigations to prevent unjust Russian encroachment.
