Belgium experienced a series of cyberattacks targeting several institutional websites, ports, and local administrations, rendering multiple government sites temporarily inaccessible on October 7, 2024.

On October 8, the Cyber Security Center of Belgium (CCB) confirmed that the attacks were ongoing, affecting various municipal websites.

Reports indicate that the pro-Ukrainian hacktivist group 'Sudo rm -RF' is responsible for these attacks, known for their previous cyber operations against Russian platforms.

The attacks coincided with the 72nd birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Ukrainian hackers reportedly celebrating this occasion by targeting Russian media.

The Russian state broadcaster VGTRK was notably affected, experiencing disruptions to its website and digital services, which included several radio and TV channels.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the cyberattack as 'unprecedented' and stated that investigations are underway to identify those responsible.

The CCB classified the attacks as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, emphasizing that while disruptive, they do not pose a significant danger as no data can be stolen.

Despite speculation regarding state involvement behind the hacker group, the CCB noted that the primary aim of these attacks is psychological disruption rather than data theft.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo praised the country's cybersecurity capabilities, asserting that Belgium ranks well in international assessments.

In response to the attacks, municipalities have taken proactive measures to enhance their cybersecurity, with the CCB providing guidance on potential safeguards.

The Russian government has initiated an investigation into the cyberattacks, framing them as part of a broader anti-Russian agenda by Western nations.

While Russian officials have not directly blamed Ukraine for the attacks, they continue to allege that cyber operations are part of an ongoing 'hybrid war'.