The SBU cyber specialists neutralized more than 1,000 cyber-attacks and incidents on the resources of government bodies and critical infrastructure during the first half of 2021.

The intensification of such attacks was recorded in April-May. To remind, at that precise time there was a Russia’s military build-up along the Ukrainian border.

The SBU prevented a large-scale cyber-attack by the hacker group Armageddon, controlled by the Russia’s FSB. The hackers targeted electronic document management systems in order to gain access to classified government data.

Also, cyber specialists disrupted eight troll farms with total of 35,000 fake social media accounts, disseminating malicious content.

For example, the SBU exposed a network of Internet agitators controlled by Russia, who operated in eight regions and whose activity coincided with tariff protests. Another network of Russian intelligence services influenced the Ukrainian public opinion through Telegram accounts, and another one - through the Telegram channels Resident («Резидент»), The Legitimate («Легитимный»), Cartel («Картель») and Gossip Girl («Сплетница»).

Following the SBU investigations in the field of national information security, 60 persons were prosecuted and 22 persons were found guilty in these six months.

In particular, the SBU announced suspicion of organizing disinformation campaigns against Ukraine to the so-called DNR Deputy Minister of Information. He is currently wanted.

In addition, 46 foreigners are banned from entering Ukraine for separatist propaganda.

The SBU cyber specialists also prepared materials for the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against 224 web resources, as well as 198 legal entities and 15 individuals who acted to the detriment of Ukraine. The sanctions were also imposed against three electronic payment systems involved in terrorist financing.

In total, 334 criminal proceedings were initiated in January-June based on the materials of the SBU cyber units. A part of these criminal proceedings is related to cases of unauthorized interference with computers and automated networks.

These include a large-scale special operation conducted jointly with the US FBI, the US Secret Service and the French National Police. The special services stopped the activities of hackers, who used Egregor and Maze malicious software to hit more than 150 companies from Europe and the United States, causing more than USD 80 m. losses.

The SBU cyber specialists also succeeded in disrupting the work of conversion centers in Kharkiv and Zhytomyr regions. Their illegal activity caused losses to the state budget amounting to UAH 5 b. (USD 185.2 m.) and UAH 200 m. (USD 7.4 m.), respectively.