Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[RileyOBlimey]

It's not an "alleged incident". And perhaps that's how it happened, IDK.

Russia has the proven ability to carry out dos attacks, password phishing and various other things which most highschool computer clubs are also capable of. But most of the software and hardware Russia uses was designed in the States. I really doubt it would stand a chance in a cyberware faceoff.

“Russian state-sponsored APT actors have used sophisticated cyber capabilities to target a variety of U.S. and international critical infrastructure organizations, including those in the Defense Industrial Base as well as the Healthcare and Public Health, Energy, Telecommunications, and Government Facilities Sectors. High-profile cyber activity publicly attributed to Russian state-sponsored APT actors by U.S. government reporting and legal actions includes:”

Understanding and Mitigating Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Threats to U.S. Critical Infrastructure | CISA

www.cisa.gov

This is CISA, FBI and NSA spelling it out a month ago. They know they’re extremely vulnerable.

A lot of people assume the Internet is well designed by the all the power and resources of super powers. In reality, systems often were created and maintained by some bloke called Colin with personal hygiene challenges.

 

[Raheem]

Is this a joke? Shit either way sorry.

No it's not a joke. The FSB is literally and actually modelled on Jobcentre plus. They even have the same chairs, you moron.

 

[Raheem]

“Russian state-sponsored APT actors have used sophisticated cyber capabilities to target a variety of U.S. and international critical infrastructure organizations, including those in the Defense Industrial Base as well as the Healthcare and Public Health, Energy, Telecommunications, and Government Facilities Sectors. High-profile cyber activity publicly attributed to Russian state-sponsored APT actors by U.S. government reporting and legal actions includes:”

Understanding and Mitigating Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Threats to U.S. Critical Infrastructure | CISA

www.cisa.gov

This is CISA, FBI and NSA spelling it out a month ago. They know they’re extremely vulnerable.

Well, time will tell.

You would think the current invasion of Ukraine would be a good time for Russia to unveil its amazing cyber-warfare capabilities. But all it's done is taken down some government websites for a few hours. Maybe it's a bit over-confident and doesn't want to make things too easy for itself.

 

[Humberto]

No it's not a joke. The FSB is literally and actually modelled on Jobcentre plus. They even have the same chairs, you moron.

Russian Intelligence Service the FSB, is not modelled on the FSB, the Federation of Small businesses, Neither does it have any relevance to the Job Centre, you mug.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

…and it’s SVR. The FSB are Russian internal intelligence.

 

[Raheem]

Russian Intelligence Service the FSB, is not modelled on the FSB, the Federation of Small businesses, Neither does it have any relevance to the Job Centre, you mug.

You've got me there. Hands up.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

Well, time will tell.

You would think the current invasion of Ukraine would be a good time for Russia to unveil its amazing cyber-warfare capabilities. But all it's done is taken down some government websites for a few hours. Maybe it's a bit over-confident and doesn't want to make things too easy for itself.

Seriously? You totally ignore that publication by the NSA and FBI telling US orgs to sort their shit out? Wow.

Did you bother to look at the Mitre link that has documented Russian APTs and their MOs? No, you didn’t.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

Here’s GCHQs public face the NCSC calling out Russian cyber attacks against Ukraine some years ago: Russian military ‘almost certainly’ responsible for destructive 2017 cyber attack

 

[Raheem]

Seriously? You totally ignore that publication by the NSA and FBI telling US orgs to sort their shit out? Wow.

Did you bother to look at the Mitre link that has documented Russian APTs and their MOs? No, you didn’t.

You're confusing two different ideas. Does Russia have some sort of cyber-warfare capability? Yes it does.

Does Russia's cyber-warefare capability outmatch that of Western countries. No chance.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

You're confusing two different ideas. Does Russia have some sort of cyber-warfare capability? Yes it does.

Does Russia's cyber-warefare capability outmatch that of Western countries. No chance.

Again, you are conflating offence capabilities with defensive capabilities and misleading readers of this thread. Once more, an attacker only has to be successful once. Defending, even to a basic extent, demands exponentially more resources.

If anyone is in any doubt of Russia’s cyber capability read up on the SolarWinds compromise:

 

[Raheem]

Again, you are conflating offence capabilities with defensive capabilities and misleading readers of this thread. Once more, an attacker only has to be successful once. Defending, even to a basic extent demands exponentially more resources.

If anyone is in any doubt of Russia’s cyber capability read up on the SolarWinds compromise:

Yes, an attacker only has to be successful once. Anyone who uses a computer is potentially vulnerable to an attacker.

But cyber-warfare a is about the types of attack you are able to undertake. If Russia has the ability to, say, turn the lights off in Kiev or derail Ukrainian trains or block everyone from using Twitter, why has it not done any of that on this occasion?

 

[2hats]

Bit of a jump in gamma shine over recent hours in proximity to the CNPP spent fuel facility. A similar signal profile is seen on numerous other monitors/monitoring networks nearby.

Could be related to heavy armoured vehicle movements through the area, kicking up dust (eg in the red forest) though there are some reports of Russian shelling of the spent fuel storage facility.

Chernobyl no-go zone targeted as Russia invades Ukraine

It was among the most worrying developments on an already shocking day, as Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday.

apnews.com

Other reports claim that some CNPP staff are being held hostage.

Russian forces seize Chernobyl nuclear power plant

The power plant, the site of a 1986 nuclear disaster, has been taken over by Russian troops.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[RileyOBlimey]

Yes, an attacker only has to be successful once. Anyone who uses a computer is potentially vulnerable to an attacker.

But cyber-warfare a is about the types of attack you are able to undertake. If Russia has the ability to, say, turn the lights off in Kiev or derail Ukrainian trains or block everyone from using Twitter, why has it not done any of that on this occasion?

I’m not going to engage with you anymore as you clearly have not read any of the authoritative information I’ve posted here. You clearly think the home brewed brain farts your grey matter postulates on cyber security is superior to official GCHQ and NSA publications.

If you spout shite again without reading the information spoon fed to you, I’ll block you.

 

[Raheem]

I’m not going to engage with you anymore as you clearly have not read any of the authoritative information I’ve posted here. You clearly think the home brewed brain farts your grey matter postulates on cyber security is superior to official GCHQ and NSA publications.

If you spout shite again without reading the information spoon fed to you, I’ll block you.

If you can work out how to do it, I think you should block me.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

If you can work out how to do it, I think you should block me.

With pleasure and you should be embarrassed.

 

[Raheem]

With pleasure and you should be embarrassed.

Naturally. Being blocked by you is a huge embarrassment. Also, how come you are reading this?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I feel a bit bewildered by it all at the moment. All I can do really is express solidarity with Ukrainians tonight, and with the brave people standing up to be counted in the streets of Russia. Ultimately, of course, Putin is responsible for what he is doing. Let's hope it blows up in his face. But let's not forget how we got here and the actions and motives of the hypocrites on the NATO side of this. They didn't give a fuck about the Ukrainian people being fucked over so long as it was their bastard doing the fucking.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

This tweet posted a few minutes ago by a well known cyber security experts reflects my frustration with Raheem.

 

[MrCurry]

I’m only 8 mins into watching this interview, but already surprised that the guest Konstantin Kisin has said that Putin made a one hour speech a few days ago, setting out exactly why he was going to take action in Ukraine. At 7:35 he outlines the major points, being as follows:

• The existence of Ukraine is “a historical mistake” due to weak decisions by former soviet leaders
• That Ukraine is practicing genocide against Russian ethnic inhabitants of eastern Ukraine
• That NATO is expanding and surrounding Russia, not as a defensive alliance but with the purpose of being able to strike in the heart of Russian with nuclear weapons

My major question actually is why didn’t I hear about any of this? I don’t remember it being reported and if we had seen coverage of what Putin was saying at the start of the week, then surely what happened yesterday would not be surprising everyone as much?

This may be the Russian equivalent of the “dodgy dossier”, setting out the narrative which prepares Putin’s domestic audience for the forthcoming action, but it gives insights into his likely endgame. As Kisin says, the talk about the mistake of Ukraine’s history suggests it’s not just the two eastern republics which Russia seeks to annex, but the entire east of Ukraine, up to and including Kiev.

 

[2hats]

Within the last hour. Intriguing.

 

[BristolEcho]

Within the last hour. Intriguing.
View attachment 311760

What does it mean?

 

[MrCurry]

What does it mean?

Ukrainian leadership fleeing to the west?

 

[RileyOBlimey]

 

[RileyOBlimey]

Another view of the same hit…probably

 

[RileyOBlimey]

Poor fucks

 

[Aladdin]

I’m only 8 mins into watching this interview, but already surprised that the guest Konstantin Kisin has said that Putin made a one hour speech a few days ago, setting out exactly why he was going to take action in Ukraine. At 7:35 he outlines the major points, being as follows:

• The existence of Ukraine is “a historical mistake” due to weak decisions by former soviet leaders
• That Ukraine is practicing genocide against Russian ethnic inhabitants of eastern Ukraine
• That NATO is expanding and surrounding Russia, not as a defensive alliance but with the purpose of being able to strike in the heart of Russian with nuclear weapons

My major question actually is why didn’t I hear about any of this? I don’t remember it being reported and if we had seen coverage of what Putin was saying at the start of the week, then surely what happened yesterday would not be surprising everyone as much?

This may be the Russian equivalent of the “dodgy dossier”, setting out the narrative which prepares Putin’s domestic audience for the forthcoming action, but it gives insights into his likely endgame. As Kisin says, the talk about the mistake of Ukraine’s history suggests it’s not just the two eastern republics which Russia seeks to annex, but the entire east of Ukraine, up to and including Kiev.

Here is Putin's full meeting with ministers

 

[bimble]

Pretty convincing collection of voices here saying that putin may indeed have lost his mind, or at least not be the rational pragmatic strategist he used to be.

Decision to invade Ukraine raises questions over Putin’s ‘sense of reality’

Officials in western capitals concerned by ‘despotic mindset’ of Russian president and rambling Monday speech increased doubts

www.theguardian.com

 

[Smokeandsteam]

History is BUILT upon claims on land and titles.

That’s a very binary understanding. EP Thompson dealt with this sort of presentation of history 60 years ago.

 

[MrCurry]

Here is Putin's full meeting with ministers

I don’t think it is that which is being referred to in the YouTube clip I quoted, but rather a televised speech Putin made, which was translated into various languages for a world audience. It may well have been reported on by the press here, it’s just that I didn’t see anything about it, so I was surprised to hear of it.

 

[bimble]

EU ambassador to Uk on radio trying to defend their refusal to exclude Russia from Swift. Pushed hard he says it’s because it would hurt us too much.