Russian state-run news agency TASS down after cyber attacks

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The website of the Russian major state-run news agency TASS has been hacked, its communications department announced on Monday.

"The official website of our agency was subjected to a hacker attack and was hacked. The attackers posted information on it that does not correspond to reality. The editorial board of TASS has nothing to do with this statement.

"In recent days, the website of the TASS agency has been under constant massive cyber attacks. Today, the attackers managed to overcome the protection. Currently, work is underway to restore the functionality of the TASS website," the agency's Corporate Communications Department said.

Along with the TASS website, the Internet resources of a number of other major Russian media were attacked and hacked.

The website of another media outlet, RIA news agency works with limited functions, the website search does not work and the page update works slowly.

The Kremlin website works interruptedly, as well as other government-related websites, including the web portal of the cabinet and the Foreign Ministry.

Last weekend, a hacker group Anonymous claimed it hacked the website of the Russian government, but the report was later refuted by the officials.

Since last Thursday -- days after Russian recognition of two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine -- Russia's war on Ukraine has been met by an outcry from the international community, with the EU, UK, and the US implementing a range of economic sanctions against Russia.

Russia has been further isolated after its planes have been barred from flying in European and Canadian airspace, and a number of its banks have been kicked out of the SWIFT international banking system.