Ukraine's leading phone operator Kyivstar targeted by hacker attack

On December 12, the Ukrainian telecommunications company Kyivstar reported a significant hacker attack that led to network and internet outages, affecting parts of its subscriber base. Kyivstar is the leading phone services provider in Ukraine, serving over 24 million mobile customers and more than 1 million Home Internet customers. The attack resulted in a large-scale technical failure, causing disruptions in mobile connections and internet access.

Kyivstar's specialists are actively working to address the issue, and law enforcement and security services are involved in the response. While users experienced inconvenience due to the temporary disruption, the company emphasized that, as of the announcement, the personal data of subscribers has not been compromised. Kyivstar apologized for the inconvenience and expressed gratitude for subscribers' understanding.

Users began reporting problems in the morning of December 12, noting difficulties in making or receiving calls and accessing internet services. Additionally, Kyivstar's website has been inaccessible since 9 a.m. local time. The company reassured its commitment to overcoming challenges and continuing to serve the Ukrainian population.

Danilov: Counteroffensive hopes did not come true

On December 12, Oleksii Danilov, the Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, commented on Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts, acknowledging that the hopes for a swift conclusion did not materialize. The counteroffensive, launched by Ukrainian forces in the summer, aimed to regain territory captured by Russia in 2022 and achieve strategic goals such as reaching the Sea of Azov to cut off Crimea from the eastern occupied regions and Russia.

Danilov noted that the campaign faced challenges, and Ukrainian forces managed to liberate only 14 villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Despite receiving NATO training, the lack of air superiority, a crucial element in NATO's doctrine, complicated the campaign.

While recognizing that the counteroffensive did not meet the desired outcomes, Danilov emphasized Ukraine's determination to continue the fight for freedom and independence. As Ukraine prepares for another year of war, the awaited support from the U.S., a major military donor, faces delays due to political infighting in Congress. The White House urged Congress to pass the funding request, including $61 billion for Ukraine, before the end of the year to ensure Ukraine's ability to defend itself.

Ukraine's Defence Minister states Commander-in-Chief's dismissal not considered

Rustem Umierov, Ukraine's Minister of Defence, stated that the replacement of Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is not under consideration. Umierov emphasized that although there are always unresolved issues, there are no plans to dismiss Zaluzhnyi. He acknowledged that discussions about such changes are happening both externally and internally but reassured that there are no imminent plans for the Commander-in-Chief's replacement. Umierov expressed openness to suggestions concerning changes in the military command and mentioned that any planned changes would be reported.