On June 5, an appeal attributed to Russian President Vladimir Putin aired across television and radio broadcasts in various Russian regions. The message described events in which, at 4 o’clock, Ukrainian troops supported by the NATO bloc and with Washington’s authorization supposedly occupied segments of the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions. The account claimed border guards and the armed forces responded with composure against a stronger adversary. A decree was reportedly issued to impose martial law in those areas, and a declaration signaled a forthcoming general mobilization to marshal all resources in the effort to confront what was described as a dangerous and insidious enemy. The message concluded with assurances that victory would be achieved.
Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov later stated that Putin was not addressing the nation in that moment. He acknowledged that a number of networks had experienced hacks but said the situation was under control. He added that some broadcasts were affected and emphasized that the problem had since been resolved and is being addressed by the relevant services.
Several days after the initial operation, the topic shifted to ongoing issues with broadcast integrity. The broadcast of certain stations, including some Mir radio content, is noted as having been affected by hacking attempts. Specific networks, such as Mir, NTV, NTV-Mir, Channel One, Channel Five, Ren-TV, and Russia-1, were mentioned in reports describing interruptions to programming during that period.
A separate incident occurred on May 6 of the same year, when some Moscow-24 and Channel One broadcasts were interrupted by unidentified intruders. Later, during the night of May 9, unauthorized access targeted Russian Smart TV services and satellite television, reportedly affecting operators such as MTS, Rostelecom, and NTV-Plus across multiple regions. The hackers allegedly inserted provocative messages linked to ongoing political operations into programs and on channel descriptions, with similar interference appearing on the Yandex TV platform.
On June 8, 2022, Kommersant FM’s internet broadcast faced a hack that led to the Ukrainian anthem being played on the station. The incident was described as an online breach, with the live broadcast unaffected on local air. The editor-in-chief later explained to TASS that the disruption occurred only on the internet stream and did not impact the station’s live, on-air operations.
Further attacks were reported on September 26, when radio stations Nashe Radio, Rock FM, and Radio Jazz, part of Multimedia Holding, experienced server outages that hindered access to databases and internal networks. As a result, broadcasts moved to reserve capacity, live programming was suspended, and music became the primary content. The attackers were described as deploying encryption software that disrupted data access and mailbox systems within the holding’s services.
A major incident followed on February 23, 2023, when Ukrainian hackers targeted Sputnik and Vera radio stations operating in Crimea. Reports indicated a temporary publication of the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kirill Budanov, and an on-air rendition of the Ukrainian anthem. Employees stated that Budanov had warned of intentions to reclaim Donbass and Crimea, and to identify and target collaborators, as part of broader regional tensions.
Across these events, the pattern shows repeated attempts to disrupt radio and television infrastructure in Russia and occupied or contested regions. Analysts note the persistent vulnerability of broadcasting networks to cyber intrusions, especially during escalations of regional conflict. Observers emphasize that such hacks often aim to influence public perception, destabilize communications, and provoke responses from authorities. In response, operators and regulators have worked to strengthen cyber defenses, restore normal programming quickly, and ensure that emergency messaging remains accessible to the public. The overall narrative underscores a cyberwar dimension alongside conventional military actions, highlighting how information channels can be targeted to shape morale and political discourse in times of crisis.