Ukrainian airport hack linked to Russian server

The main airport in Ukraine’s capital city, Kiev, has been hit with a cyberattack launched from a server in Russia, Reuters reported.

The digital assault, which reportedly did not cause any damage, comes on the heels of a suspected Russian cyberattack at three Ukrainian power companies in December that left 80,000 people without power.

{mosads}The malware used in the attack on Kiev’s main airport, Boryspil, resembles that which infiltrated the power companies, according to Reuters.

The Ukrainian government will now launch a full-scale review of its computer systems, including all airports and railway stations.

“In connection with the case in Boryspil, the ministry intends to initiate a review of anti-virus databases in the companies which are under the responsibility of the ministry,” Irina Kustovska, a spokeswoman for Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry, told Reuters.

Ukraine is holding off on officially blaming Moscow for the attack. But it has acknowledged the digital assault came from Russian soil.

“The control center of the server, where the attacks originate, is in Russia,” military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told Reuters.

The cyberattack could inflame tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The two countries’ relationship is already badly strained because of Russia’s decision to annex Crimea and support pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

That relationship took another hit on Dec. 23, when many residents in western Ukraine lost power for several hours in what is believed to be the first known blackout caused by hackers.

The Ukrainian Security Service SBU quickly blamed Russia for planting the malware that caused the outage. Several private cybersecurity firms have backed up the accusation, pointing to a specific piece of malicious code known as “BlackEnergy” that is linked to a Moscow-backed hacking group.

A spokeswoman for the airport in Kiev told Reuters there are signs the power grid cyberattack is linked to the more recent intrusion at Boryspil.

In the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said it is helping Ukraine investigate a the power grid cyberattack. The agency has not yet commented on the airport incident.