SSU, FBI Uncover Russian Hacking Campaign Against Officials in Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S.

Cybersecurity experts from Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU), in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have uncovered a Russian cyber-espionage campaign targeting the messaging accounts of government officials, military personnel, politicians, and activists in Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.

According to the SSU, the attacks were carried out by Russian intelligence services as part of a systematic effort to infiltrate secure communications.

The hackers aimed to gain access to sensitive military, political, and economic information, as well as to steal users’ personal data.

To carry out cyberattacks, Russian hackers use a variety of tools and methods.

One of the most common is sending SMS messages that appear to come from messaging app support services, tricking users into revealing their account passwords.

The Security Service of Ukraine noted that such messages are often disguised as official services or bots and are typically sent during the early morning hours, when users may be less attentive due to physical fatigue or their emotional state.

Meanwhile, Russian intelligence services and hacker groups associated with them target not only government institutions, officials, and public figures, but also the personal accounts of ordinary citizens.

In this regard, the SSU urges users to regularly review active sessions in their messaging apps and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

Users should never share verification codes or passwords with anyone and should avoid clicking suspicious links, even if they appear to come from friends or acquaintances, as those accounts may have already been hacked.

They should also refrain from opening files sent in unknown chats and from scanning QR codes from untrusted or unverified sources.

In April, Reuters reported that Russian hackers had compromised more than 170 email accounts belonging to Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators in recent months.

The espionage campaign targeted officials responsible for combating corruption and identifying Russian agents. Dozens of government officials in Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia were also targeted.