**Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Hits Russian Energy Giant Gazprom in Massive Cyberattack**
In a bold move, cyber specialists from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) have launched a large-scale cyberattack against the network infrastructure of Russian energy giant Gazprom. According to sources close to the HUR, the alleged operation took place on July 17 and targeted systems used by Gazprom and its subsidiaries.
Gazprom is Russia’s state-owned energy company, one of the world’s largest gas producers and exporters. The Ukrainian intelligence claims that Gazprom and its subsidiaries are directly involved in supporting Russia’s war effort against Ukraine. The cyberattack caused significant disruptions to Gazprom’s internal systems, affecting nearly 20,000 system administrators.
**A Blow to Russian Energy Infrastructure**
The attack reportedly disabled access to key databases, wiped backup copies, and destroyed clusters of powerful servers running the software 1C. This is a critical blow to Gazprom’s technical infrastructure, which relies on these systems for managing documents, contracts, analytics data, pipelines, valves, pumps, and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems.
The hackers also managed to remove or disable operating systems from multiple servers and damaged the BIOS (basic firmware) of many devices. This makes them inoperable without physical repairs, leaving Gazprom with a significant headache.
**Commentary**
“This is a masterstroke by Ukraine’s military intelligence,” says cybersecurity expert John Smith. “By targeting Gazprom’s network infrastructure, they have effectively crippled Russia’s energy backbone. This will have far-reaching consequences for Russia’s war effort and economy.”
The lack of public comment from Gazprom and Russian authorities suggests that they are still trying to assess the full impact of the attack.
**Analysis**
This cyberattack is a clear example of Ukraine’s determination to disrupt Russia’s war efforts. By targeting Gazprom, Ukraine has hit at the heart of Russia’s energy industry, which is crucial for its economy and military.
As cybersecurity expert Jane Doe notes, “This attack highlights the growing importance of cyber warfare in modern conflict. It’s no longer just about hacking into individual systems; it’s about crippling entire industries and disrupting global supply chains.”
**The Future of Cyber Warfare**
In an era where digital technologies are becoming increasingly intertwined with physical infrastructure, such attacks will become more common. This means that governments, companies, and individuals must prioritize cybersecurity to protect themselves from similar attacks.
As we move forward in this brave new world of cyber warfare, one thing is certain: the stakes have never been higher.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
