17 April 2022

Russia's cyberattacks in Ukraine have been tame so far, but experts warn things may escalate and target the US

CONNOR PERRETT

The Russian government hacking group Sandworm recently attempted to attack Ukraine's power grid, according to cybersecurity firm ESET and Ukrainian officials, targeting an energy company in Russia's latest attempt to destabilize the country.

The malware attack, which was revealed this week, failed to damage the system or plunge Ukraine into electrical blackouts, according to Ukrainian officials. Instead, it is part of a growing number of Russian cyberattacks that Ukraine has prevented since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion in late February.

The Cyber-Escalation Fallacy

Erica D. Lonergan

During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in March, Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, pressed General Paul Nakasone, the head of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, about the lack of significant cyber-operations in Russia’s war in Ukraine. After all, Russia has long been known for targeting Western countries, as well as Ukraine itself, with cyberattacks. Echoing the surprise of many Western observers, King said, “I expected to see the grid go down, communications too, and that hasn’t happened.” Indeed, although President Joe Biden and members of his administration have also warned

Iran capitalises on Central Asian vacuum created by the Ukraine war

James M. Dorsey

Anti-Iranian protests in Afghanistan and the stabbing of three clerics in Iran threaten to cast a shadow over Iranian efforts to capitalise on the fallout in Central Asia of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The protests at Iran’s diplomatic representations in Kabul and Herat erupted after videos went viral on social media allegedly showing police beating Afghan refugees in Iran.

Shouting “Mag bar Iran” (Death to Iran), protesters set the Herat consulate’s door on fire and destroyed security cameras.