In Ukraine, Cyber War With Russia Heating Up 256
concertina226 writes "If you think the crisis in the Ukraine is limited just to being just on the ground, think again. A cyberwar is flaring up between Ukraine and Russia and it looks like just the beginning. On Friday, communication centers were hijacked by unknown men to install wireless equipment for monitoring the mobile phones of Ukraine parliament members. Since then, Ukrainian hackers have been defacing Russian news websites, while Russia's Roskomnadzor is blocking any IP addresses or groups on social media from showing pro-Ukraine 'extremist' content."
Adds reader Daniel_Stuckey: "On the other side of the border, RT — the news channel formerly known as Russia Today and funded by the state — had its website hacked on Sunday morning, with the word 'Nazi' not-so-stealthily slipped into headlines. Highlights included 'Russian senators vote to use stabilizing Nazi forces on Ukrainian territory,' and 'Putin: Nazi citizens, troops threatened in Ukraine, need armed forces' protection.' RT was quick to notice the hack, and the wordplay only lasted about 20 minutes."
Finally, as noted by judgecorp, "The Ukrainian security service has claimed that Russian forces in Crimea are attacking Ukraine's mobile networks and politicians' phones in particular. Meanwhile, pro-Russian hackers have defaced Ukrainian news sites, posting a list of forty web destinations where content has been replaced. The pro-Russians have demonstrated Godwin's Rule — their animated GIF equates the rest of Ukraine to Nazis."
Re:Pro-Russian commenters (Score:3, Interesting)
The "overlords" are the Russians. Crimea is Ukrainian territory. The Russians have invaded Crimea, which means they have invaded Ukraine. It similar to having invaded Germany if you invade Bavaria.
Re:extremist comparisons (Score:5, Interesting)
And even more, even if Janukovych were the ruling president, he would not have the right to request foreign troops, as that prerogative belongs only to the Supreme Council. But hey, Russia never cared much about validity of their excuses for invasion. And remember: they used the very same excuse on 1939-09-17 when invading Poland.
Re:extremist comparisons (Score:2, Interesting)
That is not correct. Impeachment is solely the official accusation of crimes directed at the official. It only strips powers when he is removed from office, which can only happen during a trial and decision made by the Constitutional Court.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine,_2010
See Article 108 and 111; 108 says the powers go away "once removed via the process of impeachment", and 111 says that removal only occurs once the Court has made a decision, not during the vote of impeachment. Thus he retains his powers and responsibilities, meaning the Parliament has acted Unconstitutionally.
Notably this is also true of the 2004 Constitution, whcih they have reverted back to; that revokation of the 2010 is also unconstitutional as the President is required to sign his approval of this, which he has not.
Again, I'm a US Person; I generally favor a pro-Western Ukraine, but unfortunately the way this is going more and more the Western side and the protestors are on the wrong side of the law.