Pierluigi Paganini July 22, 2022

Threat actors hacked the Ukrainian radio station TAVR Media and broadcasted fake news on the critical health condition of President Volodymyr Zelensky

Threat actors breached the Ukrainian radio station TAVR Media this week, the attackers spread a fake message on the health status of the Zelensky.

The Kyiv Independent reported that a music program on at least one of the radio stations managed by TAVR was interrupted by false reports about Zelensky’s health at around 1 p.m.

The attackers have spread the news suggesting that President Zelensky was in critical condition under intensive care and informing that the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk was acting in his stead.

“Ukrainian radio stations attacked by hackers were spreading fakenews about Ukrainian President’s health issues. TAVR Media servers and broadcasting networks were cyberattacked today.” reported the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP).

TAVR Media manages nine major radio stations: Hit FM, Radio ROKS, KISS FM, Radio RELAX, Melody FM, Nashe Radio, Radio JAZZ, Classic Radio and (most recent) Radio Bayraktar.

The Radio Station confirmed that attackers breached its servers, but pointed out that the news was fake.

Following the spread of the fake news, Zelensky denied the information about his illness in a video published on his official Instagram page. The Ukrainian President accused Russia of spreading fake news.

“I am in the office and I have never felt as healthy as I do now,” Zelensky said in the video. 

At this time it is unclear which is the hacker group that hit the radio station, Ukrainian authorities are investigating the incident.

Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, TAVR Media)

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