Hackers destroyed data at key Ukraine agency before invasion

Researchers at the cybersecurity firm Eset LLC had said that more than three Ukrainian organisations were compromised Wednesday with destructive malware that infected a few hundred computers at those organisations. — DARWIN LAGANZON/Pixabay

In the buildup to Russia’s invasion, hackers detonated powerful data-destroying software on the network of Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, and they siphoned off large amounts of data from the country’s telecommunications network, according to three people involved in investigations into the incidents.

The attacks dealt a blow to a key Ukrainian law enforcement agency – responsible for overseeing the national police – while giving the hackers potentially valuable insights into the communications and movements of people inside the country before Russian troops began their assault, the people said. They requested anonymity because they weren’t authorised to discuss the confidential investigations publicly.