xe2x80x9cOur operations are targeting the Russian government,xe2x80x9d Anonymous writes on Twitter. The hacker movement is known for its various worldwide cyberattacks over the last two decades.

First down in the internett-attack, said to be axc2xa0response to the Ukraine War, was the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT.com. The news-site isxc2xa0directed to audiences outside Russia by broadcasting in English, Spanish, German, French and Arabic via its internet portals. The RT is considered a major propaganda channel for the Putin regime.

Since Friday afternoon, also the portal of Russiaxe2x80x99s Defense Ministry has been down, returning the 418 HTTP error code. Such error response is the indication for the server xe2x80x9cis permanently, a Teapot.xe2x80x9d

Saturday morning, also the Putin Administrationxe2x80x99s own portal, Kremlin.ru is down, still unclear if the site is hacked by Anonymous.xc2xa0

The Russian Governmentxe2x80x99s portal, with all ministries,xc2xa0is running slow and is partly down.xc2xa0

Anonymous explains in itsxc2xa0Twitter feed that it is not the Russian people that are targeted.xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cWe want the Russian people to understand that we know itxe2x80x99s hard for them to speak out against their dictator for fear of reprisals.xe2x80x9d

The internet hacking group indicates it will ramp up the campaign against Putinxe2x80x99s regime, saying xe2x80x9cWe are convinced that sanctions against Putinxe2x80x99s criminal regime will have no effectxe2x80xa6#Anonymous will intensify cyber attacks on the Kremlin this afternoon (Moscow Times) #OpRussia.xe2x80x9d

It was Thursday this week Vladimir Putin launched a massive military attack on Ukraine.xc2xa0

Saturday morning, the Russian troops are reportedly in the outskirts of Kyiv but are met with strong resistance. Reports are coming in heavy fightings.