Weapons of the Russian communications war include the spread of disinformation and cyberattacks. But Ukraine seems to be a “digital fortress”.
Moscow – Russia is supposed to start the communication war in the Ukraine have lost. This was announced by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), a British government agency that combines intelligence and security services. The disinformation spread by Russia was an “important part of the strategy to create confusion and chaos in Ukraine and beyond,” quoted the British newspaper The Independent the Director of GCHQ, Sir Jeremy Fleming.
Already as shortly after the Ukraine conflict started, Fleming warned in the magazine The Economist warned that the Kremlin was using distorted images to try to calm “international outrage” about the invasion. Ukraine was also fighting in the information war, he wrote at the time: “Both sides know that they are in a battle for influence and opinion that goes far beyond the immediate battlefield.” It is a very modern and digital cyber war that also ” brutal and destructive” is like a physical war – a war that Russia seems to be losing.
Disinformation and Cyber Attacks: The Communications War between Ukraine and Russia
In addition to disinformation and propaganda images, the Russian government also relies on cyber attacks via malware. In the month before the invasion began, military intelligence used WhisperGate malware to “destroy and deface Ukrainian government systems,” according to Sir Jeremy. Russia was waging a cyber war “before the first bullet was fired on February 24.”
In April had suspected Russian hacker tries to shut down electricity supply in Ukraine. They appeared to be part of the Russian secret service. So far, however, the Russian cyber attacks have had little effect. Jeremy Fleming used heroic words to describe Ukraine’s resilience in the cyber war with Russia. The country has “proven to be an extremely effective cyber defender,” with a “digital fortress” it has known since Russia’s Annexation of Crimea in 2014 “hard” built.
Ukraine war: Russia loses information war
Putin’s plans “failed” in the face of the “irresponsible and indiscriminate” use of destructive cyber tools. “So far, President Putin has comprehensively lost the information war in Ukraine and the West,” Jeremy Fleming said. While this is a success, one should not underestimate the repercussions of Russian disinformation in other parts of the world.
Without giving further details, Sir Jeremy announced loudly The Independentthat the British National Cyber Force could respond to Russia’s information warfare by deploying a British military unit using new offensive cyber tools. (aa)
#Putin #loses #communications #war #British #secret #service #details