War in Ukraine: four Russian oil refineries hit, sale of Kaspersky antivirus software banned… update on the situation

Des dégâts causés par les attaques russes sur une centrale électrique dans la ville ukrainienne de Dnipro, le 13 juin dernier. EFE – Marcel Gascón

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Friday, June 21, 2024, discover the latest news about this conflict.

South Korea to study the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine

South Korea will study the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine, a presidential adviser in Seoul said Thursday, an announcement that came after North Korea and Russia signed a security pact providing for a defense jointly in the event of an attack against one of the two countries. Seoul is determined to respond, in harmony with the international community, to any act that threatens its security, Blue House National Security Advisor Chang Ho-jin said at a press briefing.

If it has provided defensive equipment to Ukraine since the start of the offensive launched by Russia in February 2022, South Korea has so far kept from delivering weapons to Kiev, despite requests from the Ukrainian government. In a statement, Seoul also condemned the strategic partnership sealed this week by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the former's visit to Pyongyang.

Ukraine says it hit four Russian oil refineries with drones

Long-range Ukrainian attack drones struck four Russian oil refineries as well as radar stations and other military targets in Russia during an offensive early Friday, declared the Ukrainian army. "Drones attacked oil refineries in Afipsky, Ilsky, Krasnodar and Astrakhan", the army said in a statement published on the messaging application Telegram. It had previously announced that it had shot down 70 drones over the Black Sea and the Crimean peninsula, 43 drones over the Russian region of Krasnodar and another aircraft over the Russian region of Volgograd during the day of Friday. According to a Kiev intelligence source, the Afipsky, Ilsky and Krasnodar oil refineries produce fuel for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The offensive targeting them was carried out jointly with the Ukrainian security service SBU, this source added to Reuters.

"The damage to these refineries will considerably complicate the logistics of fuel oil supply, making it more expensive and longer, since it will have to be delivered by other refineries", said the source. The Ukrainian military says it has also targeted radar stations and electronic intelligence centers in the Bryansk region and occupied Crimea. The press release does not specify the exact nature of these sites. Drone storage and launch sites, as well as command and control centers in Russia's Krasnodar region were also struck, the statement said, adding that explosions and fires were confirmed at these facilities.

The interviewed source indicated that the drone attack had targeted a training center in the town of Yeisk, in the Krasnodar region, used by Russia to launch attacks on drone against Ukraine. The Ukrainian army also claims responsibility for drone attacks carried out on Thursday against fuel depots in the Russian regions of Tambov and Adygea.

Biden administration bans sale of Kaspersky antivirus software

The administration of President Joe Biden announced Thursday that it would ban the sale in the United States of antivirus software produced by the Russian firm Kaspersky Lab, citing the security risk represented by Moscow's influence on the company, which has a large American clientele including local and federal governments. During a conference call with reporters, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the US government considered Russia’s influence over Kaspersky Group to be a risk" significant".

According to one source, the privileged access to the computer system enjoyed by antivirus software could allow it to steal sensitive information from computers, not carry out important updates, or even ;rsquo;install malware there. "Russia has shown that it has the capabilities and willingness to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize Americans' personal information, said Gina Raimondo. "This is why we are forced to take the measure we are taking today", he said she adds. Kaspersky said in an emailed statement that its activities do not threaten U.S. national security, expressing its intention to use all legal options at its disposal to protect its operations.

The group said it believed Washington's decision was based on the current geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns, rather than on a comprehensive assessment of the integrity of China's products and services. Kaspersky". Kaspersky has previously denied having any ties to the Russian government. No immediate comment was obtained from the Russian Embassy in the United States. In addition to the ban on the sale of antivirus software, three divisions of Kaspersky will be placed on a "blacklist" commercial, said Gina Raimondo, a measure which could harm the reputation of the firm and its sales abroad.

The decision of the Biden administration illustrates its desire to prevent the risks of Russian cyberattacks as well as to continue to block Moscow's resources on the sidelines of the offensive in Ukraine , while the United States has an increasingly restricted range of new sanctions. Kaspersky has long been in the sights of the American authorities. In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security banned the company's largest antivirus software from being used on federal networks, citing alleged ties to Russian intelligence.