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☆ Russia put SIM cards in its exploding one-way attack drones to use Ukraine's cellphone network for strikes, war expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewRussia equipped its deadly attack drones with cellphone parts to help improve their targeting capabilities, a war expert noted in a new report. Advertisement"Second," he said, "the Russians were sending telemetry data from the UAVs back through the mobile phone network to help plan follow up strikes." "This is only possible, however, if the mobile phone network has effective relationships with security organisations," he said. Cellphones and related technology have played a role on both sides of the war, with Russia and Ukraine using enemy signals to aid in their targeting and strikes. "Used properly, mobile phone networks can help militaries to hide in the noise, distribute critical data, and deconflict with civilian authorities."

Persons: —, Jack Watling, Watling, SIMs Organizations: Service, Royal United Services Institute, Business, Kyiv, Strategic Communications, AP, US Army Locations: Russia, Iranian, Ukraine, Moscow, Kupiansk, Ukrainian

☆ A downed Russian Shahed drone was found with a Ukrainian SIM card, suggesting the technology was used to pilot the explosive drone: think tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A downed Russian Shahed drone was reportedly found with a Ukrainian SIM card inside. This suggests the tech was used to pilot the attack drone, war analysts said. Last month, Russia launched its largest drone attack against Kyiv in the war so far. AdvertisementOne of Russia's downed Shahed drones was reportedly found this week with a Ukrainian SIM card inside, suggesting that the technology was used to pilot the explosive attack drone, according to war analysts. Last month, Russia launched its largest drone attack against Kyiv since the Kremlin invaded the Eastern European country in February 2022.

Persons: —, ISW, Kyivstar, 53fDhIXBCP, Necro Mancer, Yuriy Ignat, Mykhailo Shamanov, Киевстар Organizations: Kyiv, Service, The, Russian, Ukrainian Air Force, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, country's Armed Forces and Air Defense, CNN Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Russia, Washington, DC, Ukraine, Kremlin, Kyiv

☆ Rakuten CEO touts Viber's ability to counter Russian 'fake news'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten, attends the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S., July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder and chief executive of Rakuten Group (4755.T), on Saturday touted the ability of his company's Viber messaging platform to counter Russian propaganda. "Unlike other social media, we've made it crystal clear we're going to block all these fake news and propaganda of Russia," Mikitani told Reuters in a Zoom interview during a visit to Kyiv. Viber, which launched in 2010 and was acquired by Rakuten in 2014, has a 98% market penetration rate in Ukraine. Asked if the app had faced attempts to breach it by Russia, he said there had not been any breaches.

Persons: Hiroshi Mikitani, Brendan McDermid, we've, Mikitani, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Viber, Rakuten, Max Hunder, Mike Harrison Organizations: Allen, Co, Sun, REUTERS, Rights, Rakuten, Saturday, Reuters, Access, Thomson Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, U.S, Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine

☆ Fact Check-No evidence Ukrainian mobile operator released charity ad citing army losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A clip falsely attributed to Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar and implying that 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the war against Russia is circulating in multiple languages, but there is no evidence that the company ever released such a video. Users have been sharing the video, which mimics the Youtube Shorts display as well as Kyivstar branding and claims to be the mobile operator’s charity campaign (here). “There was no such communication from Kyivstar, this information is fake,” the mobile operator said in response to a direct message in Instagram from Reuters. There is no evidence mobile operator Kyivstar released a video that mentions 400,000 deceased Ukrainian soldiers, and the company has called the clip a fake. Read more about our work to fact-check social media posts (here).

Persons: Kyivstar, “, Tik Tok, Read Organizations: Facebook, Reuters, New York Times Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Instagram, Ukraine

☆ Telecoms firm Veon to invest $600 mln in mobile unit Kyivstar
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) - Telecoms company Veon (VON.AS) said on Wednesday it would invest $600 million in the infrastructure of its Ukrainian subsidiary Kyivstar, the war-ravaged country's largest mobile network. The Amsterdam-listed company said the funds would help upgrade the mobile operator's infrastructure, including improving connectivity and 4G services throughout Ukraine. The country has seen much of its mobile infrastructure hit by Russian rocket attacks. Kyivstar's technical teams have performed nearly 150,000 repairs since Russia invaded last year, Veon said, adding it ensured that 93% of the network is operational. Kyivstar has lost around 7% of its active customer base - or roughly 1.7 million subscribers - since the war started last February.

Persons: Veon, Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar, Komarov, Aleksander Torbakhov, Olivier Sorgho, Clarence Fernandez, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, London

☆ Kyivstar constantly rebuilding networks amid Russia-Ukraine war, CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailKyivstar constantly rebuilding networks amid Russia-Ukraine war, CEO saysOleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar, says it's important for the international community to invest now to help rebuild the Ukrainian economy and infrastructure.

Persons: Oleksandr Komarov Locations: Russia, Ukraine

Satellites can help secure telecom connections when normal networks are disrupted by wars or natural disasters. Veon and OneWeb declined to comment. Veon and Starlink are negotiating fees for the coming year, after governments and other entities paid for the service through spring 2023. SpaceX activated Starlink over Ukraine following the Russian invasion last year, providing internet access to millions of civilians and military personnel. The merged companies are racing to build a constellation of low-orbit satellites to challenge Starlink and Amazon's (AMZN.O) Project Kuiper.

Zelenskyy has called the Russian attacks on infrastructure “energy terrorism” and vowed the assault won’t change the course of the war. People sit in a dark cafe during a blackout after Russian strikes Dec. 29 in Lviv, Ukraine. Company officials believe Russian engineers who know the vulnerable points in Ukraine’s electricity system most likely advised the Russian military on its targeting. Water and cellphonesThe attack on the country’s electricity grid has had a knock-on effect for other infrastructure, including water supplies and mobile phone service. Although the assault on Ukraine’s infrastructure hasn’t damaged Ukraine’s position on the battlefield or broken the country’s will to fight, it has inflicted “huge damage” on the economy, he said.

☆ Mobile operator Veon to sell Russian business for $2.2 bln
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Veon also operates Beeline in Kazakhstan and Kyivstar in Ukraine. Veon said the management buyout of Vimpelcom implied an expected enterprise value of approximately 370 billion roubles. Though Veon is selling at a discount, the transaction represents a relatively rare example of money changing hands between parties as companies race to exit Russia. The shares have traded near record lows since tumbling after Russia began what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. "The management buyout of our Russian operations will benefit all involved," Veon CEO Kaan Terzioglu said in a statement to Reuters.

☆ Mobile provider Veon's Q3 revenue rises 3.6% despite geopolitical challenges
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Amsterdam-listed telecoms operator Veon (VON.AS) on Thursday reported a 3.6% year-on-year rise in third-quarter revenue, as its 4G penetration and digital operator strategy continued to deliver growth despite macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges. "Growth in subscribers, higher 4G penetration, and an expanded portfolio of digital services are driving solid revenue performance across our countries", CEO Kaan Terzioglu said in a statement. It also further strengthened its liquidity position, with $3.3 billion in cash at the end of the quarter, the group said. Russia, Veon's largest market, reported a revenue decrease of 6.1% year-on-year in local currency in the quarter, impacted by a 58.5% decline in equipment revenue due to lower device sales. Reporting by Diana Mandiá in Gdansk; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Uttaresh.VOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Telecom operator VEON seeking sale of Russian operations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - Veon Ltd (VON.AS), the Dutch-based operator of telecommunications networks, said on Wednesday it was seeking the sale of its Russian operations, which make up more than half of its revenues and earnings. The company said it was conducting a "competitive sales process" for the business, which operates under the Beeline brand. Since then, scores of foreign firms have sought to reduce exposure to Russia and paused or terminated operations there. Veon's position is difficult as it also has significant operations in Ukraine, where it has struggled to keep its Kyivstar arm operating throughout the conflict. Russian media reported last month Veon was considering a sale of Beeline but Veon declined comment at the time.

☆ Mobile operator Veon may spin off Russian Beeline -Izvestia cites sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Veon operates its Beeline brand through its subsidiary Vimpelcom in Russia, a market that accounts for around half of the group's revenues. Veon also operates Beeline in Kazakhstan and Kyivstar in Ukraine. "We regularly evaluate our portfolio and look for investment or divestment activity that could create value for VEON's stakeholders," Veon said in a statement. Veon's shares have traded near record lows since tumbling after Russia sent its armed forces into Ukraine in February. In Amsterdam, Veon shares were up around 7% by 1052 GMT.

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