Digital Event Horizon
In recent years, Ukraine has been at the forefront of a devastating cyberwar between Russia and its neighbor. The Wipers of War: How Russian State Hackers Are Weakening Ukraine's Economy explores the tactics employed by Russian state-controlled Sandworm in unleashing destructive cyberattacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure targets. From targeting government and energy organizations to the grain industry, these attacks highlight the ongoing efforts of Russian state hackers to disrupt their opponent's ability to function effectively. The use of wipers as a preferred cyberattack tool reflects an effort to weaken Ukraine's war economy, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict. This article delves into the growing sophistication of modern cyber warfare and the potential consequences for both sides in the conflict.
Russian state-controlled Sandworm has been responsible for several destructive cyberattacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure targets since 2022. These attacks have used wipers, a form of malware that aims to permanently destroy sensitive data and often the infrastructure storing it. The grain industry has also been targeted by these attacks, likely an attempt to weaken Ukraine's war economy. The use of wipers is similar to the NotPetya worm incident in 2017, which caused international chaos and tens of billions of dollars in financial damages. Other groups, such as RomCom and Gamaredon, have also been observed conducting similar attacks. The use of wipers by Russian state hackers is expected to continue as a tool to weaken Ukraine's war economy.
In recent years, Ukraine has been at the forefront of a devastating cyberwar between Russia and its neighbor. The conflict has seen various groups of hackers from both sides engage in a cat-and-mouse game, with each side trying to gain an upper hand in the digital realm. However, one group stands out as particularly ruthless: Russian state-controlled Sandworm.
According to researchers at ESET, Sandworm has been responsible for several destructive cyberattacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure targets since 2022. These attacks have seen wipers, a form of malware that aims to permanently destroy sensitive data and often the infrastructure storing it, unleashed on various organizations in the country. The most recent attack targeted a Ukrainian university with two wipers, named Sting and Zerlot, which were tracked by researchers as scheduling tasks named DavaniGulyashaSdeshka, a phrase derived from Russian slang that loosely translates to "eat some goulash."
The attacks are not limited to government and energy organizations; the grain industry has also been targeted. According to ESET, this is likely an attempt to weaken Ukraine's war economy, which relies heavily on grain exports as a source of revenue. The use of wipers in these attacks highlights the tactics employed by Russian state hackers to disrupt critical infrastructure and undermine their opponent's ability to function effectively.
This type of attack has been seen before, particularly during the NotPetya worm incident in 2017, which caused international chaos when it spread globally in a matter of hours. The self-replicating malware originally targeted Ukraine but eventually resulted in tens of billions of dollars in financial damages after shutting down thousands of organizations for days or weeks.
The use of wipers by Russian state hackers is not limited to Sandworm; other groups, such as RomCom and Gamaredon, have also been observed conducting similar attacks. In some cases, these groups have collaborated with one another, with ESET noting that the collaboration between various Russian hacking groups is uncommon given their fierce rivalry.
The recent observations of wiper attacks by researchers from ESET suggest that these destructive cyberattacks will continue to be a tool for Russian state hackers in Ukraine. The group's use of wipers as a preferred cyberattack tool reflects an effort to weaken the country's war economy, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict.
In conclusion, the use of wipers by Russian state-controlled Sandworm and other groups against Ukraine highlights the growing sophistication of modern cyber warfare. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, it is essential for both sides to remain vigilant and take steps to protect their critical infrastructure from such attacks.
Related Information:
https://www.digitaleventhorizon.com/articles/The-Wipers-of-War-How-Russian-State-Hackers-Are-Weakening-Ukraines-Economy-deh.shtml
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/11/wipers-from-russias-most-cut-throat-hackers-rain-destruction-on-ukraine/
Published: Sat Nov 8 04:45:12 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
