Dateline Moscow, Kyiv, Brussels, London, New York, Washington, Ottawa, Wellington, Tokyo, Seoul, Canberra: Sanctions and a stalled offensive.
Ukraine at D+4: Sanctions and friction. (The CyberWire) Russia's invasion of Ukraine seems to be proving more difficult than Moscow would have hoped, and the weekend saw heavier international sanctions levied against Russia. The Kremlin's response to sanctions and "unfriendliness" has been to raise the alert level of nuclear forces. Both sides in the war continue to sustain cyberattacks.
Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert, escalating tensions (AP NEWS) In a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces put on high alert Sunday in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.
Russia-Ukraine latest: Vladimir Putin puts nuclear deterrent forces on high alert over Nato's 'unfriendly' sanctions (The Telegraph) President Vladimir Putin has put Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent forces on alert, dramatically ratcheting up the tensions in his stand-off with the West over his invasion of Ukraine.
Putin's nuclear alert order condemned by U.S. and NATO (Nikkei Asia) Washington welcomes Ukraine talks but says it 'remains to be seen' if Russia sincere
Russian Hybrid War Report: Belarus joins conflict against Ukraine (Atlantic Council) The Council's open-source researchers break down the Kremlin's latest moves online and on the battlefield in its war in Ukraine.
The Coming Ukrainian Insurgency (Foreign Affairs) Russia's invasion could unleash forces the Kremlin can't control.
Putin’s Blunder (Foreign Affairs) Ukraine will make Russia regret this war.
‘Strong resistance’ means Russian advance in Ukraine has failed its initial objectives, say Western officials (The Telegraph) Fighting around key cities intensifies as UK minister for the Armed Forces says ‘Putin may well have bitten off more than he can chew’
The defenders of Kyiv, led by their president, have again seen off Russian attacks (The Economist) They are using their time to prepare for the next wave
War in Ukraine ‘is not going Vladimir Putin’s way’ as fierce resistance slows Russian advance (The Telegraph) Kremlin orders attacks on all fronts as dogged opposition and strategic errors force the invaders to bypass key cities
No fuel and lost behind enemy lines: How Russia's mighty army got bogged down in Ukraine (The Telegraph) Casualty numbers thought to be higher than Russia had expected with hundreds of tanks and other armoured vehicles destroyed
MI6 chief believes Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine could be 'unwinnable' (The Telegraph) Richard Moore says 'fascinating' theory that Russia cannot secure a wider political victory makes 'sense'
Putin has never lost a war. Here is how he'll win in Ukraine (Newsweek) The Russian leader wants to restore Moscow to a position of great power in Eastern Europe—while dealing NATO a humiliating blow.
Ukrainian forces offering ‘strong resistance’ to Russian invasion (The Independent) Western officials fear use of ‘indiscriminate violence’ if Putin is frustrated in hopes of swift victory
How the outgunned Ukraine army is valiantly fighting back against Russia (The Telegraph) Despite little expectation the Ukrainian military could deflect Vladimir Putin's invasion they have still mounted a determined opposition
Kyiv on edge: As Russian forces press in on the capital, Ukrainians are defiant (Washington Post) With Russian forces pressing into the northern suburbs of this besieged capital this week, Alexei Ianikovskyi took his family into the city’s center. They found sanctuary at a hotel where he worked, one with a basement for a bomb shelter.
Ukraine’s civilians answer the call to arms as they vow to make Russians fight for every inch (The Telegraph) Kyiv could become modern-day Stalingrad as ordinary people – including hipsters, MPs, mothers and grandfathers – unite to confound invaders
Panic in Kyiv: Desperate young men dig trenches as terrified families flee in panic (The Telegraph) Russian shelling has become so intense and frequent in Ukraine's capital that even a brief spell outside for fresh air can be deadly
Ukraine invasion: What to know as Russian forces target Kyiv (AP NEWS) Here are the things to know Saturday about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the security crisis in former Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe.
Ukraine live: Allies boost Ukraine's military as Russian attacks intensify (Newsweek) Germany said Saturday it will send missiles and anti-tank weapons while the U.S. announced $350 million in immediate military aid.
Ukrainian border guards may have survived reported last stand on Snake Island (Washington Post) Ukrainian border guards who insulted Russian forces this week in a recorded exchange that went viral may not have been killed, Ukrainian officials said Saturday, contradicting an earlier claim by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Civilians are dying in Ukraine. But exactly how many remains a mystery. (Washington Post) Accurate counts have been difficult as international observers have fled or taken cover and the battlefield expands
368,000 Ukrainians flee to European countries, including some that previously spurned refugees (Washington Post) Some 368,000 Ukrainians have fled to European neighbors — mainly to Poland, as well as to Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania — since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, the United Nations refugee agency said Sunday.
Latest pictures from Ukraine: Fleeing families are reunited in safety as the battle for Kyiv continues (The Telegraph) UK minister warns that 'what is in front of Ukraine is bloody, brutal'
Risks to Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants Are Small—but Not Zero (Wired) While the Russian military is unlikely to target Ukrainian reactors, a stray missile or a power outage could spark a disaster.
Mapped: Russia's invasion of Ukraine (The Telegraph) We track the key verified areas hit in Ukraine by the Russian military
On Google Maps, tracking the invasion of Ukraine (Washington Post) The app has become a tool for visualizing the military action, helping researchers track troops and civilians seek shelter
Russia-Ukraine latest news: missile strikes on oil facilities reported as some Russian banks cut off from Swift system – live (the Guardian) Pipeline in Kharkiv and oil terminal in Vasylkiv believed hit as US, UK and EU move to exclude ‘selected’ banks from global payments system
Watch: Russian saboteur plot in Kyiv ends in deadly hail of bullets (The Telegraph) Three soldiers, said to be Russians disguised as Ukrainians, killed at end of battle in streets of the capital
Vladimir Putin poised to unleash terrifying new weapon in battle for Kyiv (The Telegraph) Fears Russian president will deploy thermobaric rockets as Ukrainian citizens fight back in the capital
Ukrainian soldiers defy Russian advance on Kharkiv using British anti-tank missiles (The Telegraph) Russia’s First Guards Tank Army run into fierce resistance on the city’s ring road as casualties of Vladimir Putin’s invasion begin to mount
U.S. stands ready to evacuate Zelensky, Russia’s ‘target No. 1’ (Washington Post) The U.S. government is prepared to help Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leave Kyiv to avoid being captured or killed by advancing Russian forces, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. But so far, the president has refused to go.
Today’s wars are fought in the ‘gray zone.’ Here’s everything you need to know about it. (Atlantic Council) Our experts help illuminate this shadowy zone of strategic competition—and offer ways for Washington and its allies to begin seizing the advantage.
Sketchy details from Russia complicate invasion coverage (AP NEWS) For journalists, the confusion surrounding Russia's attack on Ukraine deepened the challenge of covering it — and made one CNN reporter's stumbling upon an airport under attack Thursday all the more remarkable.
News From Ukraine Is Unfolding in Fragments Over Social Media (Wired) The history of Russia’s attack on the country is being written in real time. It’s up to us to pay attention.
Sorting fact, disinformation after Russian attack on Ukraine (AP NEWS) Associated Press journalists around Ukraine and beyond are documenting military activity during Russia's invasion. With disinformation rife and social media amplifying military claims and counterclaims, determining exactly what is happening is difficult.
Russians and Ukrainians fight for likes in the first TikTok war (The Telegraph) Soldiers marching into battle and missile strikes raining down on cities fill the world's most popular youth video app
War via TikTok: Russia's new tool for propaganda machine (AP NEWS) The Russian TikTok video has it all: a cat, puppies and a pulsing background beat. It's cute, watchable and hardly seems the stuff of state propaganda. In 2014, Russia flooded the internet with fake accounts pushing disinformation about its takeover of Crimea .
Scammy Instagram ‘war pages’ are capitalizing on Ukraine conflict (Input) Just hours after the first explosions rocked Ukraine Wednesday night, massive Instagram meme pages began promoting an account purporting to be that of a journalist live-streaming from the ground.
How tech platforms are trying to stop Russia-Ukraine disinformation (The Drum) The Drum asked the major tech platforms...
Twitter and Facebook restricted in Russia amid conflict with Ukraine (Netblocks) NetBlocks metrics confirm the restriction of Twitter in Russia from the morning of Saturday 26 February 2022. Facebook servers have subsequently been restricted as of Sunday. The restrictions are in effect across multiple providers rendering both social media platforms largely unusable, and come as Russian authorities and social media platforms clash over platform rules in relation to the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia partially blocks Facebook for fact-checking state-owned media (The Verge) Russia is accusing Facebook of censorship.
Twitter is pausing ads and recommendations in Ukraine and Russia (Engadget) Twitter has temporarily paused ads in Ukraine and Russia, one of several steps the company is taking to highlight safety information..
Social media platforms on the defensive as Russian-based disinformation about Ukraine spreads (POLITICO) Kremlin-backed falsehoods are spreading across the world's largest tech platforms and putting the companies' content policies to the test.
Russia Will Restrict Access to Facebook, State Media Reports (Vice) The country’s telecommunications and internet regulator announced the restriction on Friday, accusing Facebook of censoring Russia.
Russia demands Google restore access to its media YouTube channels in Ukraine (Reuters) Russia's state communications regulator on Sunday said it had written to Alphabet Inc's Google and demanded that access to Russian media's YouTube channels be restored on Ukrainian territory.
Google blocks RT, other Russian channels from earning ad dollars (Reuters) Alphabet Inc's Google barred on Saturday Russia's state-owned media outlet RT and other channels from receiving money for ads on their websites, apps and YouTube videos, similar to a move by Facebook after the invasion of Ukraine.
Meta to bar Russian state media from running ads, monetizing on platform (Reuters) Meta Platforms Inc is barring Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on its platform anywhere in the world, the parent company of social media giant Facebook said on Friday.
Facebook, Apple and Other Tech Giants Face Rising Pressure Over Ukraine (Wall Street Journal) Facebook, Apple, Google and other tech giants face rising pressure to respond to the conflict in Ukraine, which some analysts think could accelerate the fracturing of the internet into “the splinternet.”
Russia Intensifies Censorship Campaign, Pressuring Tech Giants (New York Times) Google, Apple and others were warned that they must comply with a new law, which would make them more vulnerable to the Kremlin’s censorship demands.
Elon Musk Says SpaceX Starlink Satellite Internet Is Active in Ukraine (Vice) Musk says SpaceX is sending Starlink terminals to Ukraine, though it's unclear when or how many.
Anonymous hacktivists, ransomware groups get involved in Ukraine-Russia conflict (ZDNet) Experts expressed concerns about the influx of non-government cyber groups taking sides in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian hackers started a vigilante cyber militia to take down Ukraine (Fortune) They are taking bank and government websites offline and stealing personal information.
Russian vigilante hacker: 'I want to help beat Ukraine from my computer' (BBC News) A group of "patriotic" Russian hackers say they revel in causing chaos with cyber-attacks on Ukraine.
Russia-based ransomware group Conti issues warning to Kremlin foes (Reuters) A Russia-based cybercrime group, known for using ransomware to extort millions of dollars from U.S. and European companies, vowed on Friday to attack enemies of the Kremlin if they respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Conti Ransomware Group Warns Retaliation if West Launches Cyberattack on Russia (CNET) Conti said it condemns the ongoing war but will "strike back if the well being and safety of peaceful citizens will be at stake."
Ukraine says Belarusian hackers are targeting its military personnel (The Record by Recorded Future) Ukrainian officials said on Friday that Belarusian state-sponsored hackers are trying to compromise the email accounts of its military personnel.
Belarusian hackers targeting emails of our defense forces: Ukraine (The Siasat Daily) Kiev/New Delhi: Belarusian state-sponsored hackers are targeting the private email addresses of Ukrainian military personnel amid Russia's invasion of
Russia or Ukraine: Hacking groups take sides (The Record by Recorded Future) Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has taken place both on and offline, blending physical devastation with escalating digital warfare. Ransomware gangs and other hacking groups have taken to social media to announce where their allegiances lie.
Russia-Ukraine War: Phishing, Malware and Hacker Groups Taking Sides (The Hacker News) Besides state-sponsored hackers targeting Ukrainian military with DDoS, malware, phishing attacks, cybercriminal groups have also begun to take sides.
Ukraine recruits "IT Army" to hack Russian entities, lists 31 targets (BleepingComputer) Ukraine is recruiting a volunteer "IT army" of security researchers and hackers to conduct cyberattacks on thirty-one Russian entities, including government agencies, critical infrastructure, and banks.
Ukraine: Volunteer IT Army is going to hit tens of Russian targets from this list (Security Affairs) Ukraine is recruiting a volunteer IT army composed of white hat hackers to launch attacks on a list of Russian entities. Ukraine is recruiting a volunteer IT army of cyber security experts and white hat hackers to launch cyberattacks on a list of Russian entities. The list is composed of 31 targets including Russian critical […]
Ukraine launches 'IT army,' takes aim at Russian cyberspace (Reuters) Ukraine will create an "IT army" to fight against Russia's digital intrusions, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Saturday.
Official Kremlin website down amid war in Ukraine (Reuters) The official website of the Kremlin, the office of Russian President Vladimir Putin, kremlin.ru, was down on Saturday, following reports of denial of service (DDoS) attacks on various other Russian government and state media websites.
Russian government websites go down again in apparent cyberattack (Data Center Dynamics) As hacking collective Anonymous claims it is attacking Russia
Website of Russia's TASS news agency displays anti-Putin message after hack (Reuters) The website of Russian state news agency TASS was hacked on Monday, Reuters checks from several devices showed, with the regular site replaced with an anti-war message and calls to stop President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Six Russian government websites including Kremlin website down (Jerusalem Post) After the government of Ukraine has asked for volunteers from the country's hacker underground, 6 Russian government websites including the Kremlins official website are down.
Hacking collective Anonymous declares 'cyber war' against Russia (Mail Online) The elusive computer experts issued the stark announcement on their Twitter account on Thursday evening.
Ukraine creates foreign legion as volunteers from abroad join the fight (Newsweek) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would welcome foreigners to fight for the country.
Britons volunteer for Ukrainian ‘foreign legion’ to take the fight to Vladimir Putin (The Telegraph) ‘Hundreds or even thousands’ of people could join the effort to repel the Russian invaders after Liz Truss gives her backing
Liz Truss: I will support Britons who want to fight against Russians in Ukraine (The Telegraph) Ms Truss also claimed Russia's invasion of Ukraine could be the 'beginning of the end' for Vladimir Putin
Ransomware Used as Decoy in Destructive Cyberattacks on Ukraine (SecurityWeek) Ransomware was used as a decoy in some of the recent data-wiping cyberattacks against organizations in Ukraine.
Putin Warns Russian Critical Infrastructure to Brace for Potential Cyber Attacks (The Hacker News) Vladimir Putin warns Russia's critical infrastructures to prepare for potential cyberattacks amid the country's full-blown invasion of Ukraine.
Russian News Outlet Forced Offline by Cyberattack, Anonymous Claims Responsibility (The Daily Beast) The Anonymous hacking collective claimed responsibility for the DDoS attack that briefly took down Russian “propaganda station,” as they called it, RT.com.
Destructive Malware Targeting Organizations in Ukraine (CISA) Actions to Take Today: • Set antivirus and antimalware programs to conduct regular scans. • Enable strong spam filters to prevent phishing emails from reaching end users. • Filter network traffic. • Update software. • Require multifactor authentication. Leading up to Russia’s unprovoked attack against Ukraine, threat actors deployed destructive malware against organizations in Ukraine to destroy computer systems and render them inoperable.
CISA Releases Advisory on Destructive Malware Targeting Organizations in Ukraine (CISA) CISA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have released an advisory on destructive malware targeting organizations in Ukraine. The advisory also provides recommendations and strategies to prepare for and respond to destructive malware.
CISA and FBI Publish Advisory to Protect Organizations from Destructive Malware Used in Ukraine (CISA) The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a joint Cybersecurity Advisory today providing an overview of destructive malware that has been used to target organizations in Ukraine as well as guidance on how organizations can detect and protect their networks. The joint Advisory, “Destructive Malware Targeting Organizations in Ukraine,” provides information on WhisperGate and HermeticWiper malware, both used to target organizations in Ukraine.
Cyber officials urge agencies to armor up for potential Russian attacks (TheHill) U.S. cybersecurity officials are urging federal agencies and large organizations to remain vigilant against the threat of Russian cyberattacks amid the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Kwarteng to meet National Grid chair amid Russian cyber attack threat (Sky News) Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will hold talks with Paula Rosput Reynolds against a backdrop of elevated concerns about a wave of state-sponsored Russian attacks, Sky News learns.
Protect Against the Cyber Impact of Russia-Ukraine Crisis (Palo Alto Networks) In recent weeks, the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine have continued to escalate. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has asked industry to put their “Shields Up” to prepare for a cyber attack that could disrupt, disable or destroy U.S. critical infrastructure.
How this cybersecurity researcher is helping secure journalists in Ukraine (The Record by Recorded Future) Security researcher Runa Sandvik is helping provide free VPNs for journalists in Ukraine.
Russia Ukraine Crisis: How to Protect Against the Cyber Impact (Unit42) Overview of known cyberthreats related to the Russia-Ukraine crisis including DDoS attacks, HermeticWiper and defacement; recommendations for defense.
Canada issues alert on new malware targeting Ukraine. Here’s what that means (Global News) The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security said Friday that it has become aware of a new disruptive malware, named HermeticWiper, targeting Ukrainian organizations.
Australia could get caught in the middle of a Russian cyberattack. What might that look like? (SBS News) Prime Minister Scott Morrison says cyberattacks are the most likely form of retaliation Australia could face from Russia. Here's how that could affect you.
How Australia could get swept up in the war between Russia and Ukraine (7NEWS) With Australia imposing sanctions on Russia, we could find ourselves the target of malicious hackers acting looking to retaliate.
Russian cyber attacks on NZ expected to increase (1 News) New Zealanders are being told to take the warning of cyber attacks seriously as Jacinda Ardern condemns Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Ireland could be vulnerable to cyberattacks from Russian groups, warns security expert (BreakingNews.ie) Cyberspace has long been considered the fifth domain of war; after land, sea, air and space, and a lot of countries are not well-equipped to face this kind of attack
Russian CyberAttack Could Trigger Article 5 NATO Response, Says US Senator (Common Dreams) "An attack on one ally will trigger a response from the whole alliance," said NATO's Secretary-General on Thursday.
Will Russia’s Ukraine invasion drive Sweden, Finland to NATO? (Breaking Defense) After Finland's prime minister noted that the Ukraine invasion may energize public interest in joining NATO, a Russian spokeswoman threatened "military and political repercussion" if Sweden or Finland join the alliance.
A Russian cyberwar in Ukraine could snarl global supply chains (Quartz) Previous Russian cyberattacks meant to destabilize Ukraine, like the 2017 NotPetya attack, have paralyzed global logistics companies like Maersk and FedEx as collateral damage.
NATO Response Force activated for first time (CNN) For the first time, the NATO Response Force has been activated as a defensive measure in response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Is There a Risk of a NATO vs. Russia War? (Foreign Policy) Putin’s invasion of Ukraine marks a tectonic shift in world politics and increases the danger of superpower confrontation and the militarization of Europe.
Watch’ or ‘Stand Against’ the Digital Machinery of Aggression in Ukraine (Cipher Brief) The machinery of aggression moves across the land of the people of Ukraine to their capital. There should be no words to argue with, let alone to aspire to, that shifts light from that dark reality. If the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the nations of the world believe the machinery of that aggression can only move at the pace of physical geography, we are fools. If we hang our hope on that belief, then we will fail our responsibility to pursue our resolve. The machinery of that aggression will move at the speed of our digital co-dependencies.
The U.S., Europe and NATO: A Counter-Putin Strategy (Wilson Center) In his recent national address, Vladimir Putin laid out a vision for Russia that is at odds with the security and economic architecture that the West has counted for years. Can the U.S. and its Allies deter Putin’s aggression? Do we have the tools and strategy to effectively counter Moscow’s dark vision for the future?
'We are in new, dangerous territory': Here's how NATO must respond to a Russian 'triple threat' that goes beyond Ukraine (MarketWatch) More cooperation, more spending, more nuclear weapons.
Not just Ukraine: Putin wants to remake the world (Atlantic Council) We would be mistaken to hope that Putin's ambition is limited to Europe. Ultimately, it is the international liberal order and its norms that he is after.
The Man Behind Putin’s Military (Foreign Affairs) How Sergey Shoygu Prepared the Way for Russia’s Ukraine Assault
Former Russian foreign minister would now "watch my back" if Lavrov near (Newsweek) Current Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been sanctioned by several countries in recent days in connection to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
NATO says no one should be fooled by Russian government's "barrage of lies" (Newsweek) The international alliance also called on Russia to end the "assault" on Ukraine and remove all military forces from the nation.
RT was Russia’s answer to CNN. Now its pro-Putin spin on Ukraine is sparking new outrage. (Washington Post) Whether defending Putin or downplaying the war, the Kremlin-backed global news organization is drawing louder accusations of propaganda.
Opinion: The saddest irony of Putin’s war on Ukraine (Washington Post) Russians and Ukrainians actually understand each other well. That is perhaps the biggest and saddest irony of this perverse, unnecessary war.
Putin’s War at Home (Foreign Affairs) How conflict in Ukraine complicates his balancing act.
Russian politicians break ranks with Kremlin to condemn Ukraine invasion (The Telegraph) Officials say they are ‘devastated’ by Vladimir Putin’s move to wage war on neighbour, as protests and petitions for peace gain momentum
Thousands of Russian tech workers sign a petition opposing Putin’s invasion of Ukraine (Washington Post) More than 10,000 IT workers had signed the petition by Saturday
Ukraine war will be "catastrophic" for Russia: Moscow billionaire (Newsweek) Another oligarch called for peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv to commence "as fast as possible."
Ukraine Emergency Appeal (Red Cross | Red Crescent) Donate now to help us provide vital aid to people during this difficult time!
NBU Opens Special Account to Raise Funds for Ukraine’s Armed Forces (National Bank of Ukraine) The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to open a special fundraising account to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ukraine's official Twitter account posts pleas for crypto donations amid Russian invasion (The Block) Ukraine's official Twitter account posted several requests for cryptocurrency donations on Saturday in the form of bitcoin, ether and USDT.
Ukraine is turning to online crypto crowdfunding to fund its fight against Russia (MIT Technology Review) But it’s an approach that’s fraught with complications, given platforms’ whims and proliferating scams.
Patreon suspends donation page for nonprofit giving body armor to Ukrainian army (CNBC) Come Back Alive is looking to use money it has collected through Patreon to distribute armor and helmets to soldiers. Now it's abilities are limited.
Avast warns users of crypto scams taking advantage of Ukraine conflict (Avast) Avast security experts have detected scammers pretending to be Ukrainian nationals affected by the current conflict asking for Bitcoin on social media.
EU sanctions Belarusian Security Council secretary, General Staff chief, deputy defense ministers (TBS News) EU sees these persons' actions as undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as stability and security in Ukraine
West ejects Russia from Swift and cancels 'golden passports' (The Telegraph) Germany had feared an economic backlash if Russia was ejected from the payment system
Western allies agree to expel some Russian banks from SWIFT payments system (Axios) The Western nations also agreed to impose restrictions on Russia’s Central Bank.
Swift action at last brings meaningful sanctions against Putin regime (the Guardian) Selected Russian banks banned from global payments system, while Russian central bank will find it harder to spend $500bn war chest
EU: SWIFT financial system to cut off access to some Russian banks (The Record by Recorded Future) What you need to know about this major financial tech change.
Customers of banks targeted by Russia sanctions are unable to use Apple Pay or Google Pay (Business Insider) Customers also won't be able to use their cards abroad or make online payments to companies in countries that support sanctions, Russia's Central Bank said.
Europe’s Energy Fears Knock SWIFT Off Russia Sanctions List (Bloomberg) Europe’s reluctance to compromise on its energy supplies has for now taken one of the most impactful measures off the list of international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine: ouster from SWIFT, the dominant messaging system behind global payments.
Zelenskyy claims consensus reached on booting Russia from SWIFT (Newsweek) Removal from the system, which connects 11,000 institutions globally, has been called a "nuclear weapon for the economy."
U.S., Canada and European leaders vow to crack down on Russian banks (Washington Post) The United States, Canada and European allies are preparing to target Russian financial institutions, including the nation’s central bank, with major restrictions in what would be a significant escalation of their efforts to punish the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine, the allies said in a joint statement Saturday evening.
What is SWIFT, and why does it matter in the Russia-Ukraine war? (Washington Post) As the United States, Canada and European allies prepared to step up pressure on Russian financial institutions this weekend, they vowed to cut some banks off from the SWIFT messaging system, a network that connects banks around the world and is considered the backbone of international finance.
Europe says it has a ‘financial nuclear weapon’ against Russia. But it’s uncertain if it wants to use it. (Washington Post) As U.S. and European leaders ponder how far to go in sanctioning Russia for its attack on Ukraine, their attention has shifted to the most divisive — and potentially most severe — weapon at their disposal. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called it a “financial nuclear weapon” on Friday.
Could bitcoin be Putin’s economic savior? That’s unlikely, experts say (NBC News) Virtual currencies such as bitcoin are sometimes associated with lawlessness, but the reality is they’ve become a regulated business with safeguards against money laundering.
Cyber threat grows after Russia SWIFT sanctions over Ukraine (VentureBeat) The cyberattack threat from Russia is up, amid sanctions dropping major banks from the SWIFT financial system over the invasion of Ukraine.
Russian flights will be banned from the airspace of 20 European nations (Washington Post) Twenty European countries have closed — or have said they will close — their airspace to Russian flights and flight operators, amid a coordinated pushback against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Making Putin Pay (Foreign Affairs) How the West can push back against Russia.
We must take the Al Capone approach to bring gangster Putin to justice (The Telegraph) Time for the president and his poodles to give back Russia's wealth so the country they’ve ravaged can be rebuilt. The West can help them
Sanctions swing toward Putin himself as Ukraine anger grows (AP NEWS) With Russian President Vladimir Putin the latest target of sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine, diplomatic appeals came second Saturday to imposing financial and military pain on Moscow as global condemnation grew.
US, Europe step up Russia sanctions to target Putin directly (AP NEWS) The United States and European allies said Friday they were stepping up sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine by adding measures directly targeting President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, putting diplomatic appeals to one side as Russia's forces closed on Ukraine's capital.
Putin Faces Sanctions, but His Assets Remain an Enigma (New York Times) On paper, the Russian president appears to own very little. Yet estimates put his hidden wealth well over $100 billion.
How can the EU freeze assets that Putin doesn’t officially own? (Quartz) The EU is planning to freeze Vladimir Putin's overseas assets, as part of a larger slab of sanctions designed to punish Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The trouble is: officially, Putin has no overseas assets.
Russia says West's sanctions show 'absolute impotence' as Putin is targeted (Newsweek) The comments from a Russian official come as the U.S. said it would sanction the Russian president directly following the invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow May Agree to Talks; Putin Asset Freeze: Ukraine Update (Bloomberg) EU officials warn of sanctions impact on their own economies. Zelenskiy says he’s Russia’s No. 1 target, will stay in Kyiv.
Biden Struggles to Get Some Allies to Support Condemnation of Russia at the U.N. (Foreign Policy) India and the UAE remain on the fence, worried about relations with Moscow.
Russia Might Care About the U.N. Charter More Than It Seems (World Politics Review) For the past 20-plus years, Russia has been the U.N. Security Council’s most vocal advocate for the sanctitude of the U.N. Charter. So why is Moscow now pointedly making the very same arguments that it has always been the first to criticize when used by the U.S., in an almost comically ineffective way to boot?
Biden hits Russia with tough export curbs, slashing access to global tech (Reuters) The Biden administration announced sweeping export restrictions against Russia on Thursday, hammering its access to global exports of goods from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts.
FCC probes media and telecom sector for Russia ownership ties (CNN) The Federal Communications Commission is on the hunt for companies it oversees that may have ownership ties to Russia, in a prelude to possible clampdowns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Pressure mounts on major tech companies to take tougher line against Russia (Washington Post) A Ukrainian official called on Apple to cut off Russians’ access to the App Store while Russia’s Internet censor escalates pressure on social media platforms used to organize protests
Google Faces Sanctions Dilemma With Pro-Russia YouTube Channels (Bloomberg) YouTube is popular among pro-Kremlin broadcasters and critics.‘We are dealing with a very robust Russian propaganda machine’.
How will ad agencies operating in Russia be affected by sanctions? (The Drum) This week, governments across the globe put in place new economic sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine Urges Apple to Halt Russian Product Sales, App Store (Bloomberg) Vice prime minister posts letter directed at CEO Tim Cook. Official says move could motivate young Russians to oppose war.
How some crypto companies plan to thwart possible Russian sanctions evasion (Newsweek) Three companies are making moves to help ensure no one uses the digital currency to get around the Biden administration's economic sanctions on Russia.
The global economy will suffer from Russia sanctions, but not for long (Atlantic Council) Russia’s modest contribution to the global GDP means the world’s economic pain will pass even though the fallout of the invasion will define geopolitics for years.
U.N. to Call for Up to $2 Billion in Aid to Ukraine (Foreign Policy) Already at least 70,000 people have fled the country since the Russian invasion.
13 days: Inside Biden’s last-ditch attempts to stop Putin in Ukraine (Washington Post) A pair of urgent Situation Room meetings and the days that followed provide a revealing window into the Biden administration’s unsuccessful scramble to deter a full-scale Russian invasion
US ‘looked on from a distance’ as Russia invaded Ukraine, says Volodymyr Zelensky (The Telegraph) Ukrainian president says West has abandoned his country, leaving it alone to face onslaught
Like 9/11, Putin’s attack on Ukraine has shattered the West’s certainties (The Telegraph) America’s president is weak, but it’s Europe’s failures that have been so clearly exposed
'New iron curtain': If Vladimir Putin wins in Ukraine a Cold War-style world order will wreak havoc with the West (The Telegraph) Putin's military assault to occupy and install a puppet regime in Ukraine will transform and define European geo-politics
Here’s what the free world needs to do to defeat Putin's new Russian imperium (The Telegraph) Sanctions are just the start of what it will take if we and our allies are to win the long-term contest
Experts React: Russia has launched a war against Ukraine. How can the West fight back? (Atlantic Council) Our experts are weighing in with their thoughts about where this conflict is going and how the West can fight back.
The West cannot leave Kyiv to its fate | Opinion (Newsweek) On Thursday morning, Europe woke up to a new reality. A nuclear-armed power launched a full-scale invasion of a neighboring country.
A self-indulgent West has allowed Putin to start re-erecting the Iron Curtain (The Telegraph) Over the past 15 years, the the Russian president has closely watched the free world, tested its will, and found it wanting
It’s time Putin’s real useful idiots woke up (The Telegraph) A decadent liberal elite has obsessed over minor issues while turning a blind eye to appalling tragedies overseas
The Eurasian Nightmare (Foreign Affairs) Chinese-Russian convergence and the future of American order.
The free world’s reaction to Vladimir Putin’s aggression may determine the fate of Taiwan (The Telegraph) Putin’s invasion of Ukraine plunges Europe into chaos. But a military invasion of Taiwan would cause an even more severe global crisis
Russia’s Credit Rating Cut to Junk by S&P as Tension Rises (Bloomberg) Russian, Ukrainian bonds are worst performers this week. Russia has been hit with sanctions by the U.S. and its allies.
Russia’s incursion into Ukraine is terrible for its oil companies (Quartz) While their rivals turn record profits, Russian oil and gas companies are paying for their country's geopolitical strategy.
There are no good alternatives to Russia’s oil and gas (Quartz) Russia is such a dominant player in global energy markets that there's no way to completely fill the gap it leaves behind.
Wie der Krieg deutsche Unternehmen trifft (T-online) Bislang steht die Energieversorgung für die deutsche Industrie, die Gaslieferungen aus Russland fließen weiter. Sorgen bereitet der Krieg in der Ukraine den Unternehmen dennoch. Ein Überblick.
How the Russia-Ukraine crisis could worsen global food inflation (Quartz) Globally, food prices were already at its highest point since 2011.
A Russia-Ukraine War Could Ripple Across Africa and Asia (Foreign Policy) Beware of food price spikes and revolutions if Ukrainian grain deliveries are disrupted.
Ukrainian tech companies hope for the best, plan for worst (Fast Company) The country is home to a surprising number of known-name tech companies, as well as contract programming talent that works for companies around the world.
World Reaction to the Invasion of Ukraine (Wilson Center) Kenyan Ambassador to the United Nations Martin Kimani delivered a powerful critique of Russian escalation in Ukraine in an address to the U.N. Security Council on Monday night that has gone viral.
The Russia-Ukraine Crisis Could Determine the Future of Sovereignty (World Politics Review) The current crisis at the Ukraine-Russia border highlights the enduring importance of state sovereignty as an ordering principle in world politics. Global stability now depends on whether the United States and European Union are able to reaffirm and defend this bedrock principle against a Russian attempt to dismiss it.
Wilson Smart Take: The Historical and Global Significance of Russia's Invasion into Ukraine (Wilson Center) William Pomeranz, Acting Director of the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute, talks about Putin's future ambitions and how the post-Cold War settlement has now changed.
The World Comes Face to Face With a History-Making War (World Politics Review) Much of what we do at WPR from week to week and year to year is to inform you about the trends and developments that gradually and in combination shape history. But on occasion, we find ourselves face to face with moments that make history, suddenly and singly. The war in Ukraine is one of those moments.
Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities
Cyber attack hits CNN Philippines website during presidential debate (INQUIRER.net) The website of CNN Philippines was hit a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack as its presidential debate was being held on Sunday.
The world is bracing for a global cyberwar as Russia invades Ukraine (CNBC) An onslaught of Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine has led to fears of a wider digital conflict.
Major Silicon Valley company hit by 'malicious' cyber attack (SFGATE) The attack has not been confirmed to be by Russian forces.
Nvidia Hack ‘Completely Compromised’ Internal Systems: Report (CRN) Nvidia had its internal systems “completely compromised” by a potential cyberattack that has taken parts of its business offline for two days, The Telegraph reported.
US microchip powerhouse Nvidia hit by cyber attack (The Telegraph) Exclusive: Parts of its business are 'completely compromised' at time of Russian cyberwarfare against Ukraine
Nvidia Breach Seen as Ransomware Attack Unconnected to Ukraine (Bloomberg) Chipmaker says it’s evaluating scope and nature of the event. Nvidia chips have growing role in data center AI processing.
NVIDIA Fires Back at Hackers By Encrypting 1 TB Stolen Data & Successfully Ransomed Their Systems (Wccftech) Hackers who infiltrated NVIDIA's servers & stole over 1 TB of data were hacked themselves as alleged in a new report by underground group.
Toyota suspends domestic factory operations after suspected cyber attack (Reuters) Toyota Motor Corp said it will suspend domestic factory operations on Tuesday, losing around 13,000 cars of output, after a supplier of plastic parts and electronic components was hit by a suspected cyber attack.
Zenly Bugs Exposed Users to Data Loss and Account Takeover (Infosecurity Magazine) Social app patches medium-severity flaws after responsible disclosure
CISA warns of actively exploited vulnerabilities in Zabbix servers (BleepingComputer) A notification from the U.S. Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) warns that threat actors are exploiting vulnerabilities in the Zabbix open-source tool for monitoring networks, servers, virtual machines, and cloud services.
TrickBot Takes a Break, Leaving Researchers Scratching Their Heads (Threatpost) The infamous trojan is likely making some major operational changes, researchers believe.
TrickBot Malware Shuts Down Operations—Is it For Good? (Tech Times) TrickBot malware has officially ceased its operations.
Trickbot Group's AnchorDNS Backdoor Upgrades to AnchorMail (Security Intelligence) Researchers from IBM Security X-Force have discovered a new version of Trickbot's AnchorDNS backdoor being used in recent ransomware attacks. Get the in-depth analysis here.
Dridex Malware Deliver Entropy Ransomware to Target Exchange Server (Cyber Security News) The cybersecurity researchers of Sophos have recently found some similarities between Dridex malware and a recently emerged Entropy ransomware. In short, threat actors are using the Dridex malware to deliver Entropy ransomware
Most attackers lose interest in Log4Shell (The Record by Recorded Future) After all the hype in December last year, threat actors appear to have lost interest in exploiting the Log4Shell vulnerability, as both Sophos and the SANS Internet Storm Center are reporting dwindling numbers this year.
SolarWinds through a first principle lens. (The CyberWire) How applying first principles theories can prevent material impact in the real world.
Social Media Hijacking Malware Spreading Through Gaming Apps on Microsoft Store (The Hacker News) A new malware spreading via some gaming apps on the Microsoft Store hijacks victims’ social media accounts for malicious promotions and click fraud.
IBM Warns Ransomware Follows Cloud Migration (SDxCentral) Ransomware remains the top attack type, as attackers followed enterprises moving to the cloud, according to a recent IBM X-Force report.
GE SCADA Product Vulnerabilities Show Importance of Secure Configurations (SecurityWeek) GE releases patches and mitigations for high-severity vulnerabilities in Proficy CIMPLICITY HMI/SCADA software.
Credit Suisse faces fresh scrutiny over culture after client data leaks (CNBC) Leaked data purported to show that Credit Suisse had served human rights abusers, corrupt politicians and businessmen under sanctions.
California Bar investigates after confidential discipline records published online (Los Angeles Times) State Bar officials said they found confidential information about 260,000 attorney discipline cases posted on the website judyrecords.com.
260,000 confidential attorney discipline records published after data breach, State Bar says (Orange County Register) The State Bar says it is taking several steps to get the records removed from a shadowy website and ensure such a breach doesn’t occur again.
State Bar of California Investigates Huge Data Breach That Exposed Confidential Records (KPIX) The State Bar of California is investigating a data breach after learning that a website published confidential information about 260,000 attorney discipline cases.
Bridgestone investigating possible information security breach (WTVF) Some employees at Bridgestone's La Vergne plant reported being sent home Sunday morning due to a possible cyber attack.
British Airways suffers major outage, leading to flight cancellations - but says it wasn't a cyber attack (Sky News) The airline's app and website were down for hours on Friday evening, leaving customers unable to book flights or access flight information.
Trends
Cybercrime getting more destructive, remote workers in the crosshairs (Help Net Security) An increase in the automation and speed of attacks demonstrating more advanced persistent cybercrime strategies that are more destructive.
For Small Towns Betting On Bitcoin, Mining Companies Are A Flight Risk (BuzzFeed News) Bitcoin miners keep picking up their operations and moving to more lucrative destinations. Now, their sights are trained on the US.
Marketplace
Cybersecurity Investment Rises Amid Russian Invasion of Ukraine (Crunchbase News) The Russian invasion of Ukraine not only threatens to upend the world geopolitical order, it’s also affecting several different business sectors, notably cybersecurity.
BlueVoyant Raises $250 Million to Boost Technical Capabilities, Global Expansion (SecurityWeek) Cybersecurity services provider BlueVoyant this week announced that it has received $250 million in Series D funding. Valued at over $1 billion, the cybersecurity unicorn has raised $525 million to date.
Academy Cyber Risk Toolkit Updated with 'War, Terrorism, and Cyber Insurance' Section, Resource Guide (PR Newswire) The updated Cyber Risk Toolkit from the American Academy of Actuaries is a good "first stop" for anyone seeking clear, topical explanations of...
3 Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy Right Now on Russia-Ukraine Fears (InvestorPlace) As further sanctions against Russia are threatened, fears of cyberattacks are increasing. Here are the top cybersecurity stocks to buy.
Icertis Adds Top Cybersecurity Experts to Information Security Advisory Board (PR Newswire) Icertis, the contract intelligence company that pushes the boundaries of what's possible with contract lifecycle management (CLM), today...
Nixu appoints Teemu Salmi as new CEO to lead the next phase of growth strategy (News Powered by Cision) Nixu’s Board of Directors has appointed Teemu Salmi (49) as the new CEO of Nixu Corporation. Salmi is currently serving as CIO, Head of IT & Digitalisation and a member of the Group Leadership Team at Stora Enso. Salmi will assume his new position at the latest on September 1, 2022.
Products, Services, and Solutions
IDX Earns Recognition as Category Leader in 2022 Javelin Identity Protection Service Provider Scorecard (PR Newswire) Today, IDX, a leading privacy platform and data breach response provider, announced that they are the recipients of Javelin Strategy &...
How Infopercept is helping born-in-the-cloud organisations on AWS to secure their assets and business
(YourStory.com) Infopercept helps organisations with its open-source cybersecurity solutions, processes, and people to achieve robust cybersecurity architecture. With the support of AWS, they have built a security platform – Invinsense Cloud - which can be used by AWS customers who want to build a next-gen SOC.
Design and Innovation
The end of passwords (MIT Technology Review) Companies are finally shifting away from notoriously insecure alphanumerics to other methods of authentication.
Twitter now lets you place content warnings on individual tweets (The Verge) It tested the feature in December.
Legislation, Policy, and Regulation
How China built a one-of-a-kind cyber-espionage behemoth to last (MIT Technology Review) A decade-long quest to become a cyber superpower is paying off for China.
Data Act: EU Proposes Rules for Accessing and Sharing Industrial Data (cyber/data/privacy insights) On February 23, 2022, the European Commission published its proposal for the Data Act, which aims to maximize the value of industrial data in the economy by ensuring that a wider range of stakeholders gain control over their industrial data – and that more data is available for innovative use – whil
GCSB updates NZISM for first time since September 2020 (SecurityBrief New Zealand) The New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM) has released important information in its latest update, Version 3.5.
Bangladesh in final stages of clearing cyber security strategy (TBS News) The ICT Division will place the strategy before the cabinet for approval soon after making necessary changes to it based on recommendations from other stakeholders
Who Is Policing the Location Data Industry? (The Markup) Google and Apple have tried to crack down, but location data brokers are moving to a new way to collect your whereabouts that’s much harder to detect
California’s Cybersecurity Chief Shares Priorities and Plans (GovTech) Vitaliy Panych, the California chief information security officer, discusses cyber defenses and government strategic plans, plus his his career and tech priorities.
Coast Guard Creates Cyber Mission Specialist Rating (Seapower) ARLINGTON, Va. — The Coast Guard commandant has announced the creation of a cyber mission specialist rating and corresponding chief warrant officer specialty to increase the focus and professionalism of the service’s cyber capabilities. Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz made the...
Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement
Pressure grows for EU to take action on Pegasus spyware (Silicon Republic) Experts and victims of Pegasus recently shared their insights on the controversial spyware, as members of EU Parliament are calling for an inquiry.
Controversial spyware peddler NSO in legal fight for survival (TechHQ) The NSO Group's Pegasus Spyware made global headlines last year for developing software that reportedly was used to spy on government leaders,
NSO sues Israeli paper after explosive articles on police (AP NEWS) The Israeli tech company NSO Group on Sunday filed a libel lawsuit against an Israeli newspaper after it published a series of explosive articles claiming Israeli police unlawfully used its spyware on dozens of public figures.
Durham Probe Reveals Government Access to Unregulated Data Streams (Wall Street Journal) Special counsel John Durham’s investigation into the origins of the FBI’s Russia probe points to how cybersecurity researchers and government agencies tap into huge reservoirs of potentially revealing internet data.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts BitConnect Founder Over Alleged $2.4B Crypto Scheme (Decrypt) The Department of Justice announced its indictment of BitConnect founder Satish Kumbhani, who it accuses of running a Ponzi scheme.
Editorial: A governor clueless about computers has no business overseeing cybersecurity (STLtoday.com) On Gov. Mike Parson's watch, the executive branch's Office of Cybersecurity urges people to "have fun; life is short" as a guiding principle.
