Ukraine accuses Russia of hacking into armed forces computer network
Amid tensions between NATO and Russia over the Alliance's Sea Breeze 2021 military operation, Ukraine has accused Moscow of hacking into the Ukrainian Navy's website. "On 9 July there were registered cases of hacking attacks by the structures of the aggressor state on the web portal of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the defence ministry said in a statement released in the early hours of Friday morning. Kiev pointed out that "the entire Kremlin propaganda machine is involved in these actions". It began the statement by asserting that "Russia is deliberately conducting information operations against Ukraine".
According to the Ukrainian ministry, its website was temporarily shut down, although "the threat has now been eliminated". The cyber-attack was aimed specifically at NATO's Sea Breeze operation in the Black Sea. The hackers published several documents, some of them fake. This is not the first time Kiev has accused Moscow of carrying out cyber attacks. In 2014 Ukrainian authorities reported an attack on their communication networks. In 2017 a computer virus called "NotPetya" attacked several Ukrainian institutions, including the National Bank. Ukraine and other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom linked the hacking to the Russian government. However, the Kremlin denied the accusations.
During the year, Kiev has again blamed Russia for some of the cyberattacks it has suffered. In February, Ukrainian authorities reported attacks on the country's official documents system and the security and defence website. Subsequently, in March, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed that a new cyber attack orchestrated by Russia's Federal Security Service had attempted to "access classified data of the highest institutions of state power". All these attacks are part of a 'hybrid war' organised by Moscow, as Kiev claims.
Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since the Crimean crisis in 2014. EU-backed Kiev is a key NATO ally in the region. It is currently cooperating with NATO in Operation Sea Breeze, a military exercise that Vladimir Putin has described as a 'provocation'. The US, on the other hand, sees these exercises as 'ensuring free access to international waters'. In June, a British military vessel was attacked by the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet after sailing three kilometres through waters claimed by Russia.
As these operations unfold and tensions with Russia mount, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given the go-ahead for Ukraine's NATO membership. Zelensky has declared that this decision would be a 'guarantee of security and well-being' for the country. Foreign Minister Dimitri Kuleba reiterated these words, stating that Ukraine will join NATO before it joins the European Union.
The Alliance, for its part, has supported Kiev in the most tense episodes with Moscow. This was the case last April, when Russia mobilised thousands of troops just 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. The Kremlin explained that this deployment was intended to counter NATO's war activities that 'threaten Russia'. In contrast, NATO Secretary General Jens Stolteberg called the decision "unjustified and deeply worrying". He expressed "unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Although Ukraine's NATO membership has not yet been agreed, this moment may come soon. The cyber-attacks that Kiev blames on Russia, as well as the latest escalation of border tensions, coupled with ongoing tensions in the Black Sea, are pushing Kiev towards NATO membership. However, there is already strong cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, a partnership that with Joe Biden in the White House will increase significantly. In June the Pentagon announced a package of $150 million in military assistance to Ukraine to "preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine" shortly before the Biden-Putin summit. At the meeting, the US president reaffirmed his support for Ukraine.
However, Biden has not assured NATO membership. "It depends on whether they meet the criteria. They still have to clean up their corruption and meet other requirements," the president told a press conference after the NATO summit in Belgium. Moreover, for Ukraine to join NATO it would need the backing of the other members, Washington's support would not be enough.
