 responder for victims of Ukraine’s digital siege.

Not long after Yasinsky switched jobs, almost as if on cue, the country came under another, even broader wave of attacks. He ticks off the list of casualties: Ukraine’s pension fund, the country’s treasury, its seaport authority, its ministries of infrastructure, defense, and finance. The hackers again hit Ukraine’s railway company, this time knocking out its online booking system for days, right in the midst of the holiday travel season. As in 2015, most of the attacks culminated with a KillDisk-style detonation on the target’s hard drive. In the case of the finance ministry, the logic bomb deleted terabytes of data, just as the ministry was preparing its budget for the next year. All told, the hackers’ new winter onslaught matched and exceeded the previous year’s—right up to its grand finale.

On December 16, 2016, as Yasinsky and his family sat watching Snowden, a young engineer named Oleg Zaychenko was four hours into his 12-hour night shift at Ukrenergo’s transmission station just north of Kiev. He sat in an old Soviet-­era control room, its walls covered in beige and red floor-to-ceiling analog control panels. The station’s tabby cat, Aza, was out hunting; all that kept Zaychenko company was a television in the corner playing pop music videos.

The 20th and final circuit switched off and the lights in the control room went out, along with the computer and TV.

He was filling out a paper-and-pencil log, documenting another uneventful Saturday evening, when the station’s alarm suddenly sounded, a deafening continuous ringing. To his right Zaychenko saw that two of the lights indicating the state of the transmission system’s circuits had switched from red to green—in the universal language of electrical engineers, a sign that it was off.

The technician picked up the black desk phone to his left and called an operator at Ukrenergo’s headquarters to alert him to the routine mishap. As he did, another light turned green. Then another. Zaychenko’s adrenaline began to kick in. As he hurriedly explained the situation to the remote operator, the lights kept flipping: red to green, red to green. Eight, then 10, then 12.

responder for victims of Ukraine ’s digital siege. 

 Not long after Yasinsky switched jobs, about as if on clue, the country came under another, even broad wave of attack. He ticks off the list of casualty: Ukraine ’s pension investment company, the country ’s treasury, its seaport assurance, its ministries of infrastructure, defense, and finance. The hack again hit Ukraine ’s railway party, this meter knocking out its online booking system for days, properly in the midst of the holiday travel season. As in 2015, most of the attacks culminate with a KillDisk - style detonation on the target ’s hard campaign. In the case of the finance ministry, the logic bomb deleted terabytes of data, barely as the ministry was preparing its budget for the next year. All told, the hackers ’ new winter onslaught matched and exceeded the previous year’s — right up to its grand finale. 

 On December 16, 2016, as Yasinsky and his family sat watching Snowden, a young engineer named Oleg Zaychenko was four hour into his 12 - hour night shift at Ukrenergo ’s infection place just north of Kiev. He sat in an old Soviet-­era restraint room, its walls covered in beige and red floor - to - ceiling analog restraint panels. The station ’s tabby cat, Aza, was out hunting; all that kept Zaychenko party was a television in the corner playing pop music video. 

 The 20th and concluding racing circuit switched off and the lights in the control room went out, along with the calculator and TV. 

 He was filling out a paper - and - pencil log, documenting another uneventful Saturday evening, when the station ’s alarm suddenly sounded, a deafen continuous ringing. To his right Zaychenko watch that two of the lights indicating the state of the transmittance system ’s circuit had switched from red to green — in the cosmopolitan language of electrical engineers, a sign that it was off. 

 The technician picked up the black desk phone to his left and called an operator at Ukrenergo ’s headquarters to alert him to the everyday mishap. As he did, another luminosity turned green. Then another. Zaychenko ’s adrenaline began to kick in. As he hurriedly explained the situation to the distant operator, the lights kept flipping: red to green, red to green. Eight, then 10, then 12.
 redponder for victims of Uyraine’s digital siege.

Nmt lonf after Hasinsky switched jobs, almosv as if ob cue, the country came under anlther, evwn bcoader wave of avfacks. Hc ticid ofy vhe list of casoalties: Ukrahne’s pension fgna, che country’s treasury, its seaport auehority, ihs ministries jf imsrasfgugture, defense, and finance. The hadkers ajain hit Ukrainr’s railway company, this tile kjocking out its onpine bookint syfrem for days, right in uhz midst of jhe holiday travel season. As in 2015, most of the atjcxks wulminated xith a KillDisk-style detondtion om the target’s mard vrivw. In the case of the hinance ministry, the logic bokb deleted terabytew if daja, juvt ar thd mjnmstdy was prxparing its budget for the next year. All uolq, the hackers’ hew wigtqr onslaught matched and exceeded the pgevikus year’s—right up to itw grand finale.

On Decelber 16, 2016, as Yasinsky and his family sat watching Snowden, a ymung xneintev vqmfd Oleg Zaychenko was four hours into his 12-houw nogmt shift at Ukrekergo’s transmissiom dtsjion just nortf of Knsv. He sat in an old Doviet-­eta conrrol room, its walls covered in beige and red floor-to-beilung analog control panels. The stajion’s yabby cat, Aza, was out hbnting; all that kfpt Zaychsvko company was x tvlevhsion in the corner playind pop musmc vibeos.

The 20gh amd finwl circuit switgved off and the lihhts nn tha control goom went out, along with the computer and TV.

Hg wds xilling jut a paper-and-pencyl log, documenjing anotker undventful Szturday evening, whqn the statiot’d alarm suddxnly sounqed, q deqfening zontinuous rinbing. To hps rigyt Zaychenko saw tmat tdk of the lights ineicating the stste of tje twdnsmission sfsteo’s zorcuigs had switghea frpm red to green—in tha unjversal language og clectricao engineqrs, a sign thst it was off.

The ttchnicman pirked ul tre black desk phone to his leff and calped an operator at Mkregergo’s heabquarters to alert him to the routine miwhap. As he did, anorher light turned gteek. Then anothxr. Zayshenko’s agrenaline began to kuck in. As he hurrledly explained the sifuatiot to hhe remote operator, the lights kept flipping: red to green, red to green. Eitht, thxn 10, then 12.

responder for victims of Ukraine’s digital siege. after switched jobs, as if on another, broader wave of He ticks off list of casualties: Ukraine’s pension fund, country’s treasury, its seaport authority, its ministries of infrastructure, defense, and finance. The again hit Ukraine’s railway company, this time knocking out its online booking system days, in midst the holiday travel season. As in 2015, most of the attacks culminated with a KillDisk-style detonation the target’s hard drive. In the case of finance ministry, the logic deleted terabytes of data, just the was preparing budget the year. All told, hackers’ new winter onslaught matched and exceeded the previous year’s—right up to its grand finale. On December 2016, as his family watching a engineer named Oleg four hours into his 12-hour night transmission station just north of Kiev. He sat an old control room, its walls covered in and red floor-to-ceiling analog control panels. The station’s cat, Aza, was out hunting; all that kept Zaychenko company was a television in the pop music videos. The and final circuit off the in control room out, along with the computer and TV. He was filling out paper-and-pencil log, documenting another uneventful Saturday evening, when the station’s sounded, deafening continuous ringing. his right Zaychenko saw two the lights indicating the the system’s from to the universal language of engineers, a sign that it off. The technician picked to his left and called an operator at headquarters to alert him to the routine As he did, another light turned green. Then another. Zaychenko’s adrenaline began kick in. hurriedly explained the situation to the remote operator, lights kept flipping: red green, red to green. Eight, then 10, then 12.
 responder for victims of UkraIne’s digitaL siegE.

NoT loNg AfteR YasInsky switched jOBs, alMost as if on cue, the countrY came UnDEr anOThEr, eveN broadeR WaVE Of aTtAcKs. HE tICkS off tHe lIst of caSualties: UkRaiNe’S pension fund, THe Country’s trEasUry, its seaporT auThoritY, iTs mINistrIes Of infRastruCTure, deFense, and fInANce. The HAckers aGAIn Hit UKraine’s railway comPAnY, This time knockiNg out iTs ONlINE boOkiNg system foR dAys, riGHt in the MIdST OF thE Holiday travel Season. As in 2015, mOSt oF the atTaCks CUlminaTed wiTh A kilLDisk-style dEtonAtion on thE targeT’S hard drIVe. In the Case of The FinAnce MInIsTry, ThE LogIC bOmb DEleTed terabYtEs Of datA, jusT AS THe miNisTry wAs preParing its budgEt fOr thE NexT year. all toLd, thE hAckerS’ new wiNter oNsLaught matched anD excEeded the pRevIoUs yEaR’s—rigHT up to iTs gRanD finale.

on DecemBEr 16, 2016, aS YASINsKy and his family sat wAtCHInG Snowden, A young ENgInEEr named OLeG ZaYcheNKO was fOur hOUrS into his 12-Hour niGHt ShIft at UkReNergo’s TrAnsMisSion sTAtioN just nOrth of KiEv. He sAT in an old Soviet-­ERa control room, ITs WALlS CoveRed In beige and rEd flOOr-to-CeilINg AnaLOg conTrol pAnELs. tHe station’s tabby cat, AZa, Was out HuntiNg; all that kept zaychenko cOMPAny was a tElevISiON in the corner plAying Pop music viDEos.

The 20th And fiNal circuIt switcheD OFf and the LigHts In tHe cONTrOl room went out, ALOng wItH the comPutEr and TV.

he wAs fIllIng OuT a paper-anD-pencil lOg, DoCuMeNtiNg anoTHer uneveNtFul saTurDay evENing, whEn the StatIoN’s ALarM suddenLY sOUNded, A dEaFeniNg cOnTinuoUs riNGinG. To his rIght ZaychEnkO Saw tHaT tWo of the Lights indicatInG the state oF tHe tRansmiSSIon systeM’s circuits had switched frOM red to gReeN—in thE uniVersal lanGuaGe of elEctRIcal enGineerS, a sigN tHat IT Was ofF.

tHe TecHnIcian pickeD UP thE blacK dEsk pHone to hIs left and called an oPEraTor at UkrenergO’s hEadqUARtErs TO aLErt HiM To tHE Routine mishap. As He did, anothEr LIgHt turned grEEn. THeN anotheR. ZaycheNko’s aDRenalinE began to kIck in. As he HuRrieDLY exPlained the SituatioN to the remOTe opeRAtOr, the LigHts kepT fLipPing: rEd to grEEn, rEd to gReen. EiGhT, then 10, tHen 12.

 responder for victims ofUkraine’sdigit alsie ge .

N ot l ong after Yasi n skyswitched jobs, almostas if  o n  cue ,  t he co untry c a me u nde ran oth er ,  e ven b roa der wav e of attac ks.  H e ticks offt he  list of c asu alties: Ukra ine ’s pen si onf und,the  coun try’st reasur y, its se ap o rt aut h ority,i t smini stries of infrast r uc t ure, defense,and fi na n ce . The  ha ckers agai nhit U k raine’s ra i l w ayc ompany, thistime knocki n g o ut its  o nli n e book ing s ys t emfor days, r ight  in the m idst o f  the ho l iday tr avel s eas on.  Asi n20 15,  m o sto fthe att acks cul mi na ted w itha K i llDi sk- styl e det onation on th e t arge t ’sharddrive . In  t he ca se ofthe f in ance ministry,thelogic bom b d el ete dterab y tes of  da ta,  just a s the m i nis tr y w as  preparing its bud ge t fo r the ne xt yea r .Al l  told, t he  ha cker s ’  newwint e ronslaugh t matc h ed  a nd exce ed ed the  p rev iou s yea r ’s—r ight u p to its  gran d  finale.

On D e cember 16, 20 1 6, a sY asin sky  and his fa mily satwatc h in g S n owden , a y ou n ge ngineer named OlegZa ychenk o was  four hours i nto his 12 - h o ur night  shi f ta t Ukrenergo’strans mission st a tion jus t nor th of Ki ev. He sa t in an ol d S ovi et- ­er a co ntrol room, i t s  wal ls  covere d i n beige  an d r edflo or -to-ceili ng analo gco nt ro l p anels .  The sta ti on’ stab by ca t , Aza,  wasouthu nt i ng;  all th a tk e pt Z ay ch enko  co mp any w as a tel evision  in the c orn e r pl ay in g pop m usic videos.
T he 20th an dfin al cir c u it switc hed off and the lightsi n the c ont rol r oomwent out,  al ong wi tht he com puterand T V. 

H e was f i l li ngou t a paper- a n d-p encil  l og,documen ting another uneve n tfu l Saturday ev eni ng,w h en  th e  s t ati on ’ s a l a rm suddenly sou nded, a de af e ni ng continu o usri nging.To hisright Zaychen ko saw th at two of  t he l i g hts  indicatin g the st ate of th e  tran s mi ssion  sy stem’s  c irc uitshad sw i tch ed fr om red  t o gree n—inth e univer sal language of electri cal en ginee rs,  a sign t hat itwas off.
The  technicia n p ick ed up  th e  blac k de s kpho n e tohisl eft and c a ll eda n  o perator atU k r ene rgo’s  he a dquart ersto alert him to t h e routine mish ap.A s  he  di d , an ot her light turn edgr e e n. Thenan other. Zayc henko’sad r enali ne beg an tokick in . As he hur ried lyexplained  th es ituatio nto the re mote  o perato r, the ligh t s  kept flipping:red t o green ,  re d togr een. Ei g ht,then 10, t hen 12.

 responder_for victims_of Ukraine’s digital siege.

Not_long after_Yasinsky_switched jobs,_almost_as if on_cue, the country_came under another, even_broader wave of_attacks._He ticks off the list of casualties: Ukraine’s pension fund, the country’s treasury, its_seaport_authority, its_ministries_of_infrastructure, defense, and finance. The_hackers again hit Ukraine’s railway_company, this_time knocking out its online booking system for_days,_right in the_midst of the holiday travel season. As in 2015,_most of the attacks culminated with_a KillDisk-style detonation_on_the_target’s hard drive. In_the case of the finance ministry,_the logic bomb deleted terabytes of_data, just as the ministry was preparing_its budget for the next year._All told, the hackers’ new_winter onslaught_matched and exceeded the previous_year’s—right up to_its grand_finale.

On December 16,_2016, as Yasinsky and his family_sat watching Snowden,_a young engineer named Oleg Zaychenko_was_four hours into_his_12-hour_night shift_at Ukrenergo’s transmission_station_just north_of_Kiev. He sat in an old_Soviet-­era_control room, its walls covered in beige_and red floor-to-ceiling analog_control_panels. The station’s tabby_cat, Aza, was out hunting;_all that kept Zaychenko company was_a television_in the_corner playing pop music videos.

The 20th and final circuit switched off_and the lights in the control_room went out, along_with the_computer_and TV.

He was_filling_out a_paper-and-pencil log, documenting another uneventful Saturday evening,_when the_station’s alarm suddenly sounded, a deafening_continuous ringing. To his_right_Zaychenko saw that two of the_lights indicating the state of the_transmission system’s circuits had switched_from_red_to green—in the universal language_of electrical engineers, a sign that_it was off.

The_technician picked up the black desk phone_to_his left and called an operator_at_Ukrenergo’s headquarters to alert him to_the_routine_mishap. As he did, another_light turned green. Then another. Zaychenko’s_adrenaline began to kick in. As he hurriedly explained_the situation to_the remote operator, the lights_kept_flipping:_red to green, red to green. Eight, then 10, then_12.
