The Ukrainian state security service (SBU) is intensifying efforts to bring Russian hackers to justice for their role in the cyberattack on Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest telecom operator. The SBU announced plans to build a case against the perpetrators and present evidence at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, characterizing the attack as a war crime due to its impact on civilian infrastructure.
According to Illia Vitiyuk, head of the SBU’s cyber unit, the attack on Kyivstar in late 2023 disrupted mobile and internet services for millions of subscribers, prompting the need for international intervention. Vitiyuk linked the hackers to the Sandworm group, associated with Russia’s military intelligence service (GRU), citing behavioral patterns and infrastructure analysis as key indicators.
Ukrainian cyber experts are compiling evidence to demonstrate the hackers’ involvement, including their use of specially crafted software and the identification of associated groups like Solntsepek. This initiative follows similar legal actions taken by the United States against GRU officers linked to cyberattacks, illustrating a global effort to hold state-sponsored hackers accountable.
While challenges remain in attributing cyberattacks to specific entities, Ukraine is determined to pursue justice not only against individual hackers but also against the leadership of Russian intelligence agencies. The Kyivstar cyberattack represents a significant escalation in cyber warfare, underscoring the need for robust international cooperation in combating cyber threats.
