Ukrainian intelligence reports hacking Russia’s federal tax service

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) cyber divisions reported hacking Russia’s Federal Taxation Service (FNS) servers.

The GUR said that the hackers were able to break into one of the central FNS servers, allegedly allowing special service workers to gain access to more than 2,000 regional servers. A Russian IT company that served as a database for the FNS was also reportedly affected by the attack, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

The agency claims that “all [FNS] servers received malicious software” during the operation and that “configuration files ensuring the functioning of the FNS’ extensive system were completely eliminated” as a result of the cyberattack. The GUR stated that the entire tax office database and its backups were allegedly destroyed.

The Ukrainian ministry also added that all of the FNS’ Internet traffic “ended up in the hands of Ukrainian military intelligence,” and that the work of the tax office was allegedly halted, while Russian specialists “have been trying to resume it for the fourth day already.” The GUR reports that the tax system’s full restoration is impossible, and “paralysis in the work of the [Federal Tax Service]” will last for at least another month.

The FNS denies that the agency’s servers were hacked by Ukrainian intelligence. Commenting to state news agency RIA Novosti, the tax office stated that all services are working as normal, and that Russian citizens’ data is safe. However, the FNS’ contact center also told the Port Telegram channel that users may experience problems with access to online services. The agency refused to specify the cause of the problems.