Victorious news on 657th day of war: Ukraine's cyber unit hacks Russia's tax system, AFU recapture spoil heap near Horlivka occupied since 2014

Cyber unit of Ukraine's military intelligence targets Russian tax system 

Cyber units of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine attacked the tax system of the Russian Federation. Its work is now completely paralyzed, and the entire database has been destroyed.

During the special operation, military intelligence officers managed to penetrate one of the well-protected key central servers of the Russian Federal Tax Service, and then - more than 2,300 of its regional servers throughout Russia, as well as in the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea.  As a result of the cyberattack, all servers received malware. At the same time, the Russian IT company Office.ed-it.ru, which served the Russian Federal Tax Service, was attacked in the same way.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reports that as a result of the two cyberattacks, the configuration files that have been ensuring the functioning of the extensive tax system of the Russian Federation for years were completely eliminated - the entire database and its backup copies were destroyed.

"In fact, we are talking about the complete destruction of the infrastructure of one of the main state bodies of terrorist Russia and numerous related tax data for a long period of time. The Internet traffic of tax data throughout Russia is now in the hands of Ukraine's military intelligence. The Russians have been trying to restore the tax service's operation for four days in a row without success. Experts estimate that the paralysis of the Russian Federal Tax Service will last for at least a month. At the same time, recovery of the tax system of the aggressor state is impossible in full," the intelligence informs.

Swiss company to provide Ukraine with 60 demining vehicles

The Swiss company Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) plans to deliver 60 remote-controlled demining machines to Ukraine by mid-2024

"By mid-2024, we will deliver sixty demining platforms to Ukraine that will help create a safe environment, facilitate the lives of civilians and save lives," GCS said in a post on its Facebook page.

The company's GCS-200 demining complex can clear the area of explosive ordnance, carry out light earthworks, transport cargo, excavate soil and uproot trees.

This system consists of a crawler tractor and attachments. The standardized mounting interface allows for easy connection and disconnection of the working tools in just a few minutes.

Ukrainian stormtroopers recapture spoil heap in Horlivka sector held by Russia since 2014

The soldiers of the 24th Detached Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo have recaptured a spoil heap from the Russian forces in the Horlivka sector, taken prisoners and raised the Ukrainian flag. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Our heroes are the assault group of the 24th Detached Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo, the royal brigade. Despite the difficult conditions, they recaptured one of the spoil heaps within Horlivka and captured the enemy's positions. Now our flag is flying over the spoil tip.  Horlivka is Ukraine! Donbas is Ukraine!" the president said.

Horlivka is a town north-east of Donetsk that has been under occupation since 2014. 

US announces new sanctions against Russia

The United States Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on more than 150 individuals and entities that provide supplies to Russia's military-industrial base. 

The sanctions were imposed not only against Russians, but also against some citizens of Pakistan, China, Turkey, South Korea, companies from the UAE and China, as well as those located on the occupied Crimean peninsula in Sevastopol. Suppliers from Singapore, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, and Switzerland are also targeted.

In total, the list includes 250 companies, 23 people, and 3 vessels: Arkady Chernyshev, Captain Yakubovich and Maria.