In January 2022, alleged Russian-linked hackers conducted a major cyberattack on the websites of the Ukraine government. They posted an ominous message, which read, “Ukrainians! … All information about you has become public. Be afraid and expect worse. It’s your past, present and future.” Amid this incident, NATO and Ukraine signed an agreement to deepen practical cybersecurity cooperation.
A month later, Russia invaded Ukraine.
In another part of the world, the second ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) convened in January 2022. Representatives “reiterated the importance of enhancing cybersecurity cooperation,” especially given the “recent rise in global cybersecurity … attacks and threats.” Underlining those concerns, Southeast Asia was reportedly both a target and launchpad for global cyberattacks.
In hindsight, these developments foreshadowed an inter-state war in Europe not seen since World War II – and how its political, economic, and cyber implications reach all the way to the Asia-Pacific.
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Moreover, cyberattacks as a precursor to kinetic warfare are now a reality. This is reflected not only by the aforementioned hacking incident, but also by the cyberattack on the Viasat satellite internet network that affected Ukraine and parts of Europe an hour before Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
