In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, cyber-operators are now on the front lines, engaged in a high-tech battle unlike any seen before. The Ukrainian Security Service’s (SBU) cyber department, led by Illia Vitiuk, has personnel directly involved in combat situations. These teams combine the skills of hackers and special forces to infiltrate Russian systems, work alongside snipers, and utilize cutting-edge technologies.
One key aspect of their operations involves Artificial Intelligence (AI) visual recognition systems, which analyze data collected from aerial drones, along with intelligence from various sources, to identify military targets. “We understand which type of military weapons they are about to use and on what direction,” says Mr. Vitiuk.
The SBU cyber-teams also hack into surveillance cameras on occupied territory to monitor Russian troop movements and deploy kamikaze drones to neutralize Russian cameras spying on Ukrainian activities. These operations often require working undercover, close to the target.
Drones, used both for surveillance and as weapons, play a pivotal role in this conflict. The SBU’s cyber-team operates its drones and employs countermeasures to disrupt Russian drones, including detecting and attempting to control them.
As the conflict evolves, Ukrainian operators must get closer to the front lines to overcome Russian jamming signals. This proximity increases the risks to team members, necessitating enhanced security measures.
Notably, Russian intelligence services have also moved cyber-teams closer to the front lines, enabling faster communication with the military and providing direct access to captured Ukrainian devices or nearby communications.
The cyber-conflict has been intertwined with military operations from the early stages of the war. Russia’s attempts to cause panic by taking public websites offline preceded the full-scale invasion. Subsequent cyber-attacks, combined with missile strikes, aimed to disrupt information flow, but Ukraine’s resilience, aided by Western technology companies, allowed it to recover.
Ukraine’s tech workers have contributed significantly by developing systems like “Griselda” to gather real-time situational intelligence from social media and other sources. This information aids military and government decision-making.
Despite facing relentless cyber-attacks, Ukraine remains steadfast in its cyber-defense efforts. The nation’s cybersecurity experts work diligently to counter Russian hackers and maintain the integrity of their systems.
Moscow’s concentrated cyber efforts against Ukraine have left it with limited capacity to target Western nations. Illia Vitiuk warns that if Ukraine were to fall, these cyber-attacks could be redirected elsewhere.
In this battle against their Russian adversary, Ukraine and its allies continue to explore innovative ways to integrate technology into modern warfare.
Source: BBC
