Cyberattacks on Ukraine increased by nearly 70% last year, with hackers targeting key sectors and infrastructure.

The government team for responding to computer emergencies, CERT-UA, which operates under the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, processed 4,315 cyber incidents last year.

This was reported by the press service of the State Special Communications, as conveyed by Ukrinform.

This represents a 69.8% increase compared to the previous year, when cybercriminals attacked the Ukrainian cyberspace 2,541 times.

Local authorities, government and governmental organizations, the security and defense sector, the energy sector, commercial organizations, and telecommunications are the most frequent targets of these attacks.

The most common types of incidents include the distribution of malware, phishing, malicious connections, and account or system compromise.

The malicious actors aim to steal sensitive information as well as to destroy data and information systems, as emphasized by the State Special Communications.

Experts from CERT-UA note that there is currently a persistent trend of increasing cyberattacks, particularly against Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

The enemy continues to attempt to destabilize Ukraine using cyber weapons. This indicates that the confrontation in cyberspace remains one of the hottest points of the war.

The State Special Communications suggests that Russia will continue to employ all possible methods to obtain information vital to the enemy. Destructive attacks against critical infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector, will also persist.

During the war, information about the plans of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, data from defense industry enterprises, the government, and other organizations supporting the military is the most valuable to the enemy.

To achieve these goals, malicious actors typically use mass distributions of malware and phishing emails. These types of cyberattacks will remain the most widespread.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Verkhovna Rada has adopted a draft law in its first reading that provides for the establishment of a system in Ukraine for responding to cyberattacks.