UK Blames Russia For Cyber Attacks On Satellite Internet Before Invasion Of Ukraine

Russia has apparently carried out cyber attacks targeting internet companies. (photo: doc.unsplash)

JAKARTA - Before starting its invasion of Ukraine, Russia apparently carried out cyber attacks targeting the American commercial satellite internet company Viasat, Britain and US intelligence.

The attack apparently started about an hour before the invasion on February 24. As a result, outages occurred in several thousand Ukrainian customers and affected wind farms and Internet users in Central Europe.

Viasat itself provides high-speed satellite broadband for commercial and military customers. The company previously said tens of thousands of terminals were damaged beyond repair in the cyberattack, although its core network infrastructure and the satellites themselves were fine.

Many have long believed that Russia was to blame in these attacks, but have no evidence to say so publicly.

Now the EU, UK, US and other allies are reaffirming longstanding suspicions that the main target is the Ukrainian military. Britain's Center for National Cybersecurity (NCSC) said it was almost certain Russia was behind the attack.

"We recognize that international governments have identified who they believe is responsible for the cyberattack on the KA-SAT network," Viasat said.

The war in Ukraine has opened up the most sustained offensive cyber operation carried out by one country against another. Some were surprised that there was no more evidence of a destructive attack when the invasion began.

But it will take time for a fuller picture to emerge, such as a major attack on communications satellites linked to Russia. So far, Russia has not launched a wider strike against Western targets.

"We have and will continue to work closely with relevant law enforcement and government authorities as part of the ongoing investigation," Viasat said.