As Russia begins military operation, Ukraine under cyber attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, which the authorities in Kiev have described as a "full-scale invasion".

Donbas comprises the rebel regions of Luhansk and Donetsk which were declared as independent states earlier this week by the Russian leader which led to widespread condemnation and sanctions against Moscow.

In a televised speech to the nation on Thursday morning, Putin said Russia did not plan to occupy Ukraine, but warned that Moscow's response would be "instant" if anyone tries to take on Russia, the BBC reported.

He said that the Ukrainian people would be able "to choose freely" who runs the country and reiterated that his country's actions were in "self-defence".

The Russian leader urged the Ukrainian soldiers who are facing off Russian-backed rebels to lay down weapons and return to their homes. He also told them that their "fathers and grandfathers did not fight so they could help neo-Nazis".

Putin added that clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces were "inevitable" and "only a question of time".


Immediately after Putin made the announcement, there were explosions heard in Kiev and also across Ukraine, including towns in the east, like Kramatorsk, close to areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists, said the BBC.

The Russian President's declaration came at the same time as the UN Security Council in an emergency meeting was imploring him to stop pushing more troops towards Ukraine.

In his appeal, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked Putin to stop the Russian troops from attacking Ukraine and to "give peace a chance" as "too many people have already died.


Meanwhile in Kiev, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba said that Putin has launched a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine".

Taking to Twitter shortly after the announcement, he said: "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression.

"Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."


In a last ditch appeal before Putin made the announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia could start "a major war in Europe" and urged Russian citizens to oppose it.

Zelensky said Russia had almost 200,000 troops and thousands of combat vehicles on Ukraine's borders, the BBC reported.

Condemning Putin's latest move as "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces", US President Joe Biden said that the Russian leader has "chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering".


In a statement released by the White House, Biden said: "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.
"The world will hold Russia accountable."

In a tweet, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg strongly condemned Russia's "reckless attack" on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives.

"This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression."


Meanwhile, as Russia began military operations against Ukraine, key Ukrainian government websites were down early on Thursday as multiple cyber attacks hit the country.

The websites of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, and those of the ministries of foreign affairs, infrastructure, education and others, were down, reports CNN.

"In a separate and potentially more serious hacking incident hours earlier, a data-wiping tool was found on hundreds of computers in Ukraine, according to cybersecurity researchers," the report mentioned.


This raised concerns that a destructive cyberattack was unfolding amid Russia's military escalation.

"We are aware of multiple commercial and government organisations in Ukraine impacted by the destructive malware today," Charles Carmakal, senior vice president and chief technology officer for cybersecurity firm Mandiant, told CNN.

The US officials had warned that Russia will very likely use cyber operations in conjunction with military action in Ukraine.


President Joe Biden said last month the US could respond with cyberoperations of its own if Russia conducts additional cyberattacks in Ukraine.

Of all the cyber incidents, though, the destructive data-wiping tool -- known as "wiper" malware -- had the potential to be the most impactful.

The malicious code affected "large organisations" in Ukraine, according to cybersecurity firm ESET, which has multiple clients in the country, the report said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorised a "special operation" in Ukraine's Donbas region.

"We are hearing reports - some unconfirmed - of explosions in other parts of the Ukraine. Loud bangs in the capital as well as Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region," BBC news reported. - IANS