Kyiv, Ukraine, Sep 7, 2018 / 10:27 am
Russian hackers infiltrated the email inboxes of Orthodox, Catholic, and other religious leaders connected to Ukraine amid conflict between Kyiv and Moscow over Ukraine's political and religious independence.
Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, was among the 4,700 global targets of the "Fancy Bear" cyber espionage group, the same Russian hackers who were indicted in the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, according to the Associated Press.
Gugerotti and unnamed Ukrainian Greek-Catholic clergy were hacked by this group, along with other foreign diplomats, journalists, intelligence personnel, and Hillary Clinton.
Kyiv is the site of the 988 baptism of Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of Kiev, which resulted in the Christianization of Kievan Rus', a state whose heritage Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus all claim.