VGTRK, Russia's state television and radio broadcaster, confirmed on Monday that a cyberattack had disrupted its operations. The incident, which was reported to local news outlets, marks a significant blow to the media giant.
Although a VGTRK spokesperson initially minimized the severity of the cyberattack, stating it caused no major damage, local reports indicated that broadcasts on several of its channels, including Russia 1 and Russia 24, were abruptly interrupted and resumed nearly an hour later.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the cyberattack on VGTRK on Monday, announcing that an investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Maria Zakharova, representing the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, labeled the attack as part of the West’s “anti-Russian agenda,” describing it as an element of ongoing "hybrid warfare" against the country.
Zakharova added that Russia will raise the issue internationally, including with organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO. “We understand that when the collective West says it aims to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, this includes an attack on the media,” she stated.
The Russian cybersecurity firm F.A.C.C.T. reported that details of the VGTRK cyberattack surfaced on the official social media account of the pro-Ukrainian hacktivist group Sudo rm-RF, suggesting their involvement.
The group, according to researchers, has been orchestrating cyberattacks on prominent Russian organizations since March 2022, leaking compromised data. Their alleged targets include RuTube, the Skolkovo innovation hub, and a number of Russian healthcare facilities.
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