Exclusive-U.S. spy agency probes sabotage of satellite internet during Russian invasion -sources

Small toy figures with laptops and smartphones are seen in front of displayed Viasat Internet logo, in this illustration taken December 5, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

(Reuters) - Western intelligence agencies are investigating a cyberattack by unidentified hackers that disrupted broadband satellite internet access in Ukraine coinciding with Russia's invasion, according to three people with direct knowledge of the incident.

Analysts for the U.S. National Security Agency, French government cybersecurity organization ANSSI, and Ukrainian intelligence are assessing whether the remote sabotage of a satellite internet provider's service was the work of Russian-state backed hackers preparing the battlefield by attempting to sever communications.