Ukraine's intel service honors civilian hackers for the first time with military award

Ukraine's military intelligence service (HUR) has honored a group of civilian cyber activists for their role “in strengthening national security,” marking the agency’s first official recognition of cybersecurity specialists outside the country’s military ranks.

The hacker group, identified as Laska, received the third-class Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky — a Ukrainian military decoration awarded for significant achievements in defending the country’s sovereignty, military service and contributions to national security.

The award has traditionally been given to military personnel, intelligence officers and volunteers who played key roles in Ukraine’s defense, particularly in conflicts like the ongoing war with Russia.

According to HUR, Laska has been cooperating with military intelligence since the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion. 

“Their skilled actions in the enemy's cyberspace have significantly weakened the military-industrial complex of the aggressor state, Russia, and have also secured the acquisition of critically important information,” the agency said in a statement on Thursday.

Ukrainian officials haven’t disclosed the hackers' identities or provided any details about the attacks they were involved in. The group has not been cited in any public reports by Ukrainian or Western researchers.

Photos published on HUR’s official website feature the agency’s chief, Kyrylo Budanov, presenting awards to the supposed hacktivists, whose faces are blurred.

Civilian hackers, or so-called hacktivists, have played an important role in the cyber war between Ukraine and Russia. Groups like the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance and IT Army of Ukraine are responsible for dozens of attacks against Russian systems.

Ukrainian state officials have previously acknowledged cooperating with hacktivists in cyber operations and have praised their efforts. However, they have rejected claims that they control these groups or issue them assignments.

In an earlier interview with Recorded Future News, IT Army’s spokesperson said that the group can only collaborate with the state on an unofficial and personal level — meaning its members can contact representatives of Ukraine’s intelligence services directly and offer their assistance.

Hacktivists' involvement in the cyberwar raises concerns among legal experts, as it remains unclear how international humanitarian law will apply to civilian hackers once the war is over. Without having the status of combatants, cyber volunteers lack legal protections if they are captured, wounded or killed, and they could be prosecuted for what would otherwise be lawful acts of war.

Despite ongoing discussions about the legal status of hacktivists, neither Ukraine nor the international community has reached a definitive conclusion. Ukraine’s cyber officials previously told Recorded Future News that it is unlikely the volunteer groups’ status will change in Ukraine in the near future. Instead, the country is considering the possibility of establishing a distinct cyber reserve, which would include the best members of the hacktivist community.