Authorities in Crimea have issued alerts regarding potential internet service disruptions following a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks aimed at local telecommunications providers on June 27, 2024.
Described as “intense,” these DDoS attacks have inundated the networks with excessive internet traffic, causing significant strain. The onslaught began on Wednesday and has persisted, as confirmed by officials in the region.
Efforts are being made to mitigate the impact of these cyber assaults. “Internet services may experience temporary outages,” stated Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor in the Crimea region, which has been under Russian control since 2014.
The city of Sevastopol, Crimea’s most populous urban center, saw Miranda Media, a local internet service provider linked to Russia’s Rostelecom, as the primary target of these attacks. The European Union imposed sanctions on Miranda Media in 2023 for its role in supporting unauthorized entities in Crimea on behalf of Russia.
Users have voiced their frustrations over the deteriorating internet quality on the company’s communication platforms, yet Miranda Media has not formally addressed these service interruptions. Requests for comments from the company have gone unanswered.
Officials in Sevastopol suggest that the attacks are strategically aimed at Miranda Media due to its vital role in maintaining the city’s emergency communication infrastructure.
Although the cyberattacks briefly hampered the operations of the emergency call center, it was reported on Thursday that normal service has been reinstated.
Ukraine’s military intelligence unit (HUR) has taken credit for the cyber offensive against major Russian internet service providers in Crimea, though further specifics were not disclosed.
A confidential informant within HUR conveyed to Ukrainian media that the organization consistently targets Russian cyber infrastructure, including internet service providers.
Previously in May, Ukrainian cyber forces accepted responsibility for disrupting a key internet provider in Belgorod, Russia, situated near the Ukrainian frontier. This provider is believed to cater to governmental and military entities.
Other Ukraine-affiliated hacker collectives have also engaged in similar cyber operations. For instance, last October, the IT Army, a group of digital activists, acknowledged their role in the takedown of Miranda Media and additional Russian internet service providers in Crimea.
Miranda Media, at the time, characterized the incident as a meticulously orchestrated cybercrime.
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