Ukraine‘s media landscape faces disruption as 1+1 Media Group, a major player in the country’s media industry, reports a cyberattack targeting its satellite TV channels. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, impacted 39 channels, including those operated by 1+1 Media. The company stated that the cyberattack aimed to jam satellite broadcasting on the Astra 4A 11766 H transponder, indicating a deliberate effort to disrupt communication channels.
European provider SES, responsible for operating the Astra satellites, acknowledged the outages caused by “external radio frequency interference” and assured that the satellites remained secure. Efforts are underway to investigate the incident and mitigate the impact on affected services. However, the disruption underscores the vulnerability of media infrastructure to cyber threats, posing challenges to Ukraine’s information dissemination and communication networks.
The cyberattack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Ukraine reporting increased incidents of cyber attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. While Ukraine has consistently attributed these attacks to Russia, Russian authorities have not responded to such allegations in the past. Furthermore, Ukraine’s 24 Channel also reported a similar disruption to its satellite broadcast, suggesting a coordinated effort by hackers to target multiple media outlets. This incident highlights the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard against malicious activities targeting media organizations and ensure the integrity of information dissemination channels.
