The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate as Ukraine reports a counteroffensive on three fronts, with forces clawing back territory from Russia. The conflict has now entered its 470th day, and observers are warning of a growing Russian appetite for escalation. This is evidenced by the Dnipro flooding, which Ukraine claims is the result of a deliberate attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam by “Russian terrorists.” Tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to evacuate and swathes of the front line now lie under water.
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has led to a wave of criticism from Ukraine’s allies in the West. Germany has called the attack a “war crime,” and NATO members are warning of the need to take urgent action to prevent further escalation. Retired U.S. General Kevin Ryan has warned that Putin is “likely” to use nuclear weapons rather than lose in Ukraine, while another former NATO chief warns that NATO members may be forced to send troops to Ukraine.
The destruction of the dam has also led to a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of people now without drinking water. Flood victims in Russian-occupied areas of southern Ukraine report scenes of panic and desperation, with no sign of emergency responders. Survivors have claimed that Russian officials are shooting at rescuers in flooded areas.
Amidst the chaos, there have been reports of cyber attacks by Russian hackers. Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that a Ukrainian “saboteur group” blew up a segment of the Tolyatti-Odesa pipeline, while Ukrainian hacktivists have been reorganizing, with one moving towards professionalism and another towards serving as a popular movement.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is driving a rise in rural crime in the UK, as gangs steal farm machinery to send back to Russia. This follows the imposition of some of Europe’s most stringent laws regulating what people can say and do in public, with a German woman receiving a €900 fine for stating that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was ‘necessary.’
Meanwhile, researchers are reporting on two separate North Korean-linked APT groups, one financially motivated, while the other focused on gathering strategic intelligence. Researchers are also warning of a new information-stealing malware called Fractureiser, which is being distributed through popular Minecraft modding platforms.
In response to the growing threat from cyber attacks, cyberdefenders are working to improve file-transfer tools, which are a popular target for hackers. This follows a recent ransomware attack on Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai, which is working with law enforcement agencies to resolve the issue. Zipper giant YKK has also confirmed that it was targeted in a cyber attack on its US networks. These incidents serve as a further reminder of the need for robust cybersecurity measures to be put in place to protect against the growing threat from cyber attacks.