On July 23, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) executed a large-scale cyberattack targeting key banking institutions and payment systems across Russia, according to sources from Ukrainska Pravda within the DIU.
Details reveal that clients of major banks, including Sberbank, Alfa-Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, and VTB, experienced difficulties or were unable to access online banking and digital services.
Additionally, Russia’s national payment systems, such as the Faster Payments System (SBP) and the National Payment Card System (NSPK), were either blocked or significantly disrupted.
The cyberattack also impacted mobile operators, causing interruptions in mobile communications and internet services for companies like Beeline, Megafon, Tele2, and Rostelecom.
Russian authorities have acknowledged the cyberattack, attributing it to “politically motivated hackers.” Ukrainian intelligence indicates that the attack is still ongoing and far from over.
DIU representatives humorously addressed the situation, suggesting that they were aiding Russia in “returning to its roots” by forsaking “hostile liberal values” like online services and the Internet. They playfully recommended that Russians revert to using abacuses, paper ledgers, and cave paintings for their record-keeping.