On 17 April 2024, the satellite broadcasts of several Ukrainian TV channels were targeted in cyber attacks reportedly orchestrated by Russian sources, the media companies in question said in two separate statements.
Media corporation 1+1 said that it had temporarily suspended the broadcasts of 39 of its channels until the problem was resolved, adding that its flagship channels 1+1 Ukraine, 1+1 Marathon, 2+2, TET, PlusPlus, Bigudi and Kvartal TV were affected, among others. In its statement, 1+1 claimed that the satellite signals of multiple Ukrainian TV channels were being regularly attacked by Russia since the beginning of March. The media corporation advised its viewers to make sure that they had alternative sources for TV signal reception, such as cable TV and online broadcasts. It was unclear when the satellite broadcasts of the 39 channels belonging to 1+1 were again made available.
On the same day, some satellite broadcasts by Ukraine’s state-owned TV channel FREEDOM also became unavailable as a result of a cyber attack, which was also reportedly orchestrated by Russian sources. In a statement, FREEDOM said that the attack began at 3:06 p.m. local time and was resolved by 3:24 p.m. on the same day. During the attack, affected devices reportedly displayed content by a pro-Russian propaganda outlet. Competent authorities were investigating the incident, FREEDOM wrote in its statement.