Photo: UNIAN
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has announced that key state registries have been restored after a large-scale cyber-attack by Russia. In this regard, the Ministry has decided to dismiss Oleksiy Berezhnyi, Director General of the State Enterprise National Information Systems.
The attack, which had serious consequences for the functioning of the registers, did not lead to the loss of Ukrainians’ data, assured Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna. “Step by step, we have restored the key registers for notaries, the Civil Registry Office, the Unified State Register, and completed the restoration of the last part of the registers. Data updating is ongoing, and experts are already working on entering the latest information,” she said.
Restoration of registries’ operation
Among the restored registries:
- The State Register of Real Property Rights;
- State Register of Encumbrances on Movable Property;
- Automated system of enforcement proceedings;
- Unified register of convicts and persons taken into custody;
- Automated system Bankruptcy and Insolvency.
However, access to the State Register of Real Property Rights is limited due to data updating. Subsequently, after the update is completed, access will be restored. The Ministry of Justice has also announced that online services related to these registers will soon be available on the portal and in the Diia app.
Working with cyber defence and changes in legislation
To prevent similar incidents in the future, the government is introducing changes to the cyber defence system. Among the main steps is the creation of a professional network of cybersecurity specialists in all government agencies that process important Ukrainian data.
“This is an important step for the development of cybersecurity in Ukraine. We will continue to work on strengthening the protection of state registers and developing international cooperation in this area,” Olga Stefanishyna said.
In particular, the Verkhovna Rada has already supported in the first reading draft law No. 11290, which provides for the creation of a “Pentagon for state registers”.
Criminal proceedings and internal investigation
Criminal proceedings have been initiated in connection with the cyberattack and an internal investigation is underway. An audit of NAIS has already been conducted, and additional measures will be taken in the near future to strengthen cybersecurity.
The Ministry of Justice also highlighted the need to support cyber defence at the state level, emphasising the importance of developing a professional network of experts to effectively respond to cyber threats.
