• New UK and US intelligence suggests Russia was behind an operation targeting commercial communications company Viasat in Ukraine.
• Incident on 24th February caused outages for several thousand Ukrainian customers, and impacted windfarms and internet uses in central Europe.
• Cyber security leaders from the 5 Eyes, EU and other international allies meet at the NCSC’s Cyber UK conference in Newport today to discuss shared threats.

Russia has been behind a series of cyber-attacks since the start of the renewed invasion of Ukraine, the EU, UK, US and other allies have announced today (10 May). The most recent attack on communications company Viasat in Ukraine had a wider impact across the continent, disrupting wind farms and internet users in central Europe.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) assesses that the Russian Military Intelligence was almost certainly involved in the 13 January defacements of Ukrainian government websites and the deployment of Whispergate destructive malware. The NCSC also assesses that it is almost certain Russia was responsible for the subsequent cyber-attack impacting Viasat on 24 February.

On 24 February, a cyber-attack against Viasat began approximately one hour before Russia launched its major invasion of Ukraine. Although the primary target is believed to have been the Ukrainian military, other customers were affected, including personal and commercial internet users. Wind farms in central Europe and internet users were also affected.

Viasat has said that ‘tens of thousands of terminals have been damaged, made inoperable and cannot be repaired.’

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

This is clear and shocking evidence of a deliberate and malicious attack by Russia against Ukraine which had significant consequences on ordinary people and businesses in Ukraine and across Europe.

We will continue to call out Russia’s malign behaviour and unprovoked aggression across land, sea and cyberspace, and ensure it faces severe consequences.

Today’s announcement comes as cyber security leaders from the 5 Eyes, EU and international allies meet at the NCSC’s Cyber UK conference in Newport to discuss the cyber threats facing the world.

The UK has already sanctioned the GRU after their appalling actions in Salisbury, and has frozen more than £940 billion worth of bank assets and £117 billion in personal net worth from oligarchs and their family members who fund Putin’s war machine.

The Prime Minister spoke to Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin this morning.

Following last week’s Northern Ireland Assembly elections, they both agreed on the vital importance of restoring the devolved institutions, both the Assembly and Executive, as soon as possible. The Prime Minister said that the UK Government would remain in close contact with the parties following initial engagement yesterday.

The Prime Minister made clear that the situation in respect of the Northern Ireland Protocol was now very serious. The balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement was being undermined and the recent elections had further demonstrated that the Protocol was not sustainable in its current form.

Despite repeated efforts by the UK Government over many months to fix the Protocol, including those sections related to the movement of goods and governance, the European Commission had not taken the steps necessary to help address the economic and political disruption on the ground.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the UK Government would take action to protect peace and political stability in Northern Ireland if solutions could not be found.

Director General Mel Nebhrajani CB was awarded a Companion of the Bath (CB) in the Queen’s 2021 New Year’s Honours. She received the award in recognition of her public service, particularly to government law, the legal profession and specifically her leadership and work on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during her time as Director of DHSCLA.

Now, over a year later on Wednesday 4 May, Mel, accompanied by her husband (pictured), went to the Palace for the Investiture Ceremony, the first day that the Palace held Investitures since lockdown. For the first time since 1904 the ceremony was held in the Throne Room, making the occasion even more special. Mel described the ceremony as a ‘pinch yourself moment’. It was one that made her reflect on how far she has come, and how thankful she is to those who have supported her over the years – her family, friends and colleagues.

Noting this support Mel said: “No-one does this alone, and I certainly haven’t. I am grateful for the support of my wonderful family, friends and colleagues. This award is not just for me – it is also for them and recognises the incredible work done across government during extraordinary times.

Our response to COVID-19 and our continued work in delivering for government is outstanding – I want to thank you all for everything you are doing”.

She also noted, “I am not the only GLD colleague to have been honoured. Lee John-Charles and Sam Ede recently received their CBEs and I want to congratulate them too.”