Ukrainian Hackers Target Russian Media, Courts

On President Vladimir Putin's 72nd birthday, Ukraine executed significant cyberattacks targeting Russia's state media and judicial systems, leading to major digital outages. The pro-Ukrainian hacker groups 'BO Team' and 'sudo rm-RF' claimed responsibility, marking the attacks as a form of celebration against the backdrop of ongoing conflict. Websites of VGTRK, Russia's largest state media provider, experienced disruptions, although reports suggest that broadcasting continued through traditional means. Concurrently, Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes on Russian assets, including a major petroleum terminal in Crimea, reflecting a coordinated effort to undermine Russian infrastructure. Despite these attacks, Kremlin officials downplayed the damage, asserting that the digital infrastructure remained intact. This escalation underscores the increasing reliance on cyber warfare from both sides in the prolonged Ukraine conflict.