According to intelligence analysts, hacks on Ukrainian government organisations, combined with prewar data theft, provided Russia with vast information on much of Ukraine’s population.

Russia’s unrelenting cyber-attacks on Ukraine may have done less harm than many expected. However, the majority of its hacking is aimed at a different goal that receives less attention but has potentially terrifying consequences: data harvesting.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which supervises the police, national guard, and border patrol, was among the Ukrainian agencies breached on the eve of the Feb. 24 invasion. During a diversionary cyberattack that damaged Ukrainian websites a month ago, a national database of automotive insurance policies was raided.

Russia’s unrelenting cyber-attacks on Ukraine may have done less harm than many expected. However, the majority of its hacking is aimed at a different goal that receives less attention but has potentially terrifying consequences: data harvesting.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which supervises the police, national guard, and border patrol, was among the Ukrainian agencies breached on the eve of the Feb. 24 invasion. During a diversionary cyberattack that damaged Ukrainian websites a month ago, a national database of automotive insurance policies was raided.