Hacking the Cosmos: Cyber operations against the space sector: A case study from the war in Ukraine

Abstract

A few hours prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia’s military intelligence (GRU) launched a destructive cyberattack against ViaSat’s KA-SAT satellite network, which was used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It prevented them from using satellite communications to respond to the invasion. After the ViaSat hack, numerous cyber operations were conducted against the space sector from both sides of the conflict. This Cyber Defense Report investigates all other cyber operations that have occurred against the space sector during the war in Ukraine (February 2022 – September 2024). The report investigates the effects of these operations as well as their perpetrators and what it signifies in the larger context of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.