The SBU has thwarted more than 16,000 cyberattacks by Russia since the start of the full-scale war

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, specialists from the SBU’s Cybersecurity Department have neutralized more than 16,000 enemy cyberattacks, the intensity of which has increased significantly. The occupiers’ main targets have been government agencies, financial institutions, the defense sector, and Ukrainian media outlets. 

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine, citing the head of the relevant department, Volodymyr Karastelov, who noted that attacks on domestic media outlets were a priority. One example was a three-hour DDoS attack on the website of a national television channel, during which a botnet generated up to 200,000 requests per minute from various parts of the world; however, cybersecurity experts ensured the site continued to operate without interruption.

Also in 2025, Russian hackers attempted to seize control of a major television group through phishing and related systems to spread propaganda, but the SBU blocked this interference in time. To strengthen the protection of newsrooms, the security service, in collaboration with the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, is implementing a project to enhance the cyber resilience of local and regional media outlets. National Council Chairwoman Olga Herasymiuk emphasized that the initiative’s goal is to train newsrooms to independently identify threats and operate under wartime conditions. As part of this project, practical training sessions were held in 2026 at 20 regional venues, reaching nearly 450 media professionals and technical specialists from 21 regions of Ukraine.