On Friday, it was once again confirmed that even the most reliable digital infrastructure is vulnerable to cyberattacks and hacking
Malicious actors infiltrated the email service used to send out messages to the “UP Club” — a community of active and dedicated readers of “Ukrainska Pravda.” As a result, members of this voluntary community received messages containing Russian spam, which caused considerable concern and misunderstanding among users. The editorial board of “Ukrainska Pravda” emphasized that access to the email service has already been restored, and all measures to determine the causes of the incident and prevent further attacks are being carried out as quickly as possible. The editors sincerely apologize to all “UP Club” members for the temporary inconvenience and the unusual situation caused by the hacking — as their informational connection with the editorial team was significantly disrupted. Preliminary information indicates that the incident occurred on May 9 — the day Ukrainians commemorate the memory of heroes and remember the events of World War II. Unknown malicious actors used this day to interfere with the operation of the email service by sending mass distributions containing Russian spam. According to official data, the “Ukrainska Pravda” editorial does not have any involvement in this malicious activity, which targeted specifically the service channel through which “UP Club” members receive important messages from the editorial team. For reference, it is worth noting that the “UP Club” is a unique and valuable community created to support independent Ukrainian journalism. Participants not only receive informational updates but also have the opportunity to directly contact the editorial team, participate in exclusive events, ask journalists questions, and engage in discussions on relevant topics. It serves as a kind of bridge between the authors and the readers, enabling the development of a higher-quality and more objective media space. Following this incident, “Ukrainska Pravda” is already working on strengthening the security of its systems and implementing additional measures to protect information channels. At the same time, this situation serves as a reminder of the high level of cyber threats that Ukraine and the Ukrainian media face — threats which must be actively countered. Representatives of the editorial team have issued a public statement explaining that the hacking was caused by external malicious actors and shows signs of involvement by Ukrainian and foreign cybercriminal groups aiming to destabilize the information space and sow distrust in independent media. They assured that all communications and messages for “UP Club” members are currently being sent through secure channels with updated security systems. Overall, this incident once again underscores the importance of high-level information security and vigilance in today’s conditions. In a world of digital technologies and continuous cyber threats, it is crucial to stay alert and regularly update security systems to avoid similar incidents in the future. For community members like those in the “UP Club,” it means paying even more attention to the security of personal data and communication channels to preserve trust and maintain the valuable connection with independent Ukrainian journalism.