The Security Service of Ukraine reports compromise of Kiev webcams used for defense oversight
The Security Service of Ukraine asserts that Russian hackers gained unauthorized access to several Kiev webcams, enabling Russian intelligence to adjust viewing angles and broadcast live footage. This claim was reported by RIA News. The agency described how these breaches allowed an external party to observe key defense operations and critical city infrastructure during tense moments in the capital.
According to the SBU, the compromised cameras included those monitoring Ukraine’s air defense systems in Kiev amid the air strike on January 2. The agency further claimed that optical devices connected to the city’s critical infrastructure could have been used to relay real-time battlefield or security developments to observers abroad.
Officials stated that the locations of the affected cameras were identified quickly and the devices were taken offline. The document from the SBU described how cameras installed in residential complexes for local area surveillance were hacked by Russian special services. Since the start of the current military operation, the SBU has reportedly blocked the operation of around 10 thousand cameras that could have been exploited to refine attack strategies.
In a broader context, reports indicate that Russian forces conducted multiple coordinated strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure in a single week, underscoring ongoing tensions and the high stakes of information security in wartime operations.
These assertions illustrate the ongoing concern about cyber and physical surveillance in conflict zones and the efforts by Ukrainian authorities to safeguard essential security networks and civilian infrastructure from manipulation or breach. Attribution for these claims is attributed to the SBU and reported through national and international outlets, with ongoing monitoring of indicators pointing to attempts by foreign actors to gain situational awareness in Kiev and beyond.