Crossed-out flag and pro-Russian slogan: hackers attack state news agency Ukrinform

Ukraine's state news agency Ukrinform was hit by a cyberattack on 11 November. The attackers altered the website's homepage and the agency's profile on X (Twitter). Experts are investigating the circumstances of the attack and working to restore normal operations of the affected resources.

Source: Serhii Cherevatyi, Director General of Ukrinform, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda; Ukrinform on Telegram

Details: The website's homepage displayed the word ZELENET, an image of a crossed-out Ukrainian flag and a link to a Telegram channel.

The agency's X account was also renamed ZELENET, and a pro-Russian slogan was added to its description.

A technical maintenance notice later appeared on the website: "Sorry for the temporary inconvenience. The website will be back shortly."

In a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, Cherevatyi confirmed the cyberattack and said the agency is working with the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection to deal with its consequences. He said this was not the first attack in recent months.

Cherevatyi noted that in 2024-2025, the agency had installed new equipment thanks to its US partners. He also said that the attackers are improving their methods and using AI systems, "so we are trying to respond as quickly as possible."

Update: Ukrinform later posted an official statement on Telegram about the cyberattack on its information resources.

The agency reported that it is in constant contact with the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, the SSU's Department for Counterintelligence Protection of State Interests in the Information Security Sphere and other relevant services to strengthen its cyber defences.

Quote from Ukrinform: "Experts are currently working to establish the circumstances of the incident, assess its consequences and restore the normal operation of the agency's resources."

Details: Ukrinform added that the adversary is using new cyberattack methods and tools, prompting the agency to continuously strengthen its defences. It said it will provide further updates on the situation.

Background:

• On the night of 5-6 November, hackers compromised Ukrainska Pravda's account on an email distribution service and sent some readers a fake email in the name of the UP.Ranok project about an alleged "terrorist attack in Kyiv".
• The editorial team stressed that it had neither written nor sent the email and that the information in it was false. Readers were urged not to follow the link in the message or share its contents.

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