Empirical analysis of the cyberattacks of the Russian–Ukrainian war

Abstract

This research study aims to empirically analyze the cyberattacks that occurred in the context of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict between 2022 and 2023, with a specific focus on the impact of these attacks on civilian infrastructure and institutions. The data collection for this study is based on publicly available sources from the Cyber- Peace Institute, taking into account various types of incidents such as malware, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, spam, information operations, and website defacements. The study employs a network theory approach to examine the structure and dynamics of incidents and campaigns, while additional statistical methods and trend analysis are used to assess sector-specific and geographic patterns, as well as changes in attack frequency and severity. The research aims to contribute to the existing literature on cyber warfare and to provide valuable insights into the cyber threats faced by civilian infrastructure and institutions during times of conflict.