The recent wave of cyberattacks on Ukrainian government agencies and IT vendors has been linked to Russian military intelligence service, GRU, according to an official blog post from Microsoft. The company has attributed these attacks to a group named “Cadet Blizzard,” which has been reportedly active since 2020 and is now targeting NATO members supporting Ukraine. 

Key Points: 

1. “Cadet Blizzard,” a group allegedly active since 2020 and associated with Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, has been accused of the ongoing cyberattacks on Ukrainian government agencies and IT vendors.
2. The group is not only targeting Ukraine but is also focusing on NATO members that are providing military aid to Eastern Europe.
3. Microsoft has connected “Cadet Blizzard” to data-wiping attacks that took place in Ukraine before Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
4. Russia, which has historically used cyber strategies to project power and influence foreign affairs, was ranked in tier two of the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ cyber powerhouse rankings in 2021.
5. Despite not being the most successful Russian actor, “Cadet Blizzard” has achieved some recent success, prompting Microsoft to share information to raise visibility and protection against their attacks.

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