back to article Microsoft: Russia invasion of Ukraine ‘unlawful, unjustified’

Microsoft is decrying what it calls the "tragic, unlawful and unjustified invasion of Ukraine" by Russia, and vowed to continue protecting the country from cyberattacks and state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. The software giant added it will support humanitarian efforts as Ukrainians try to fend off an invading Russian …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Hey, MS. Activate that killswitch on all Russian windows installs.

    The tools to do it are there in the activation system.

    Disrupting Russian logistics is every bit as valuable as an ATGM in the right place at the right time.

    Or use your systems to broadcast western media when booted up?

    1. veti Silver badge

      I'm no expert, but something tells me the quartermasters of the Russian army aren't using any version of Windows that can be so simply killed.

      The Russians are many things, and yes they are quite often stupid (this whole war, for instance, is an act of almost unbelievable foot-shooting idiocy on Putin's part - joke's on me, all this time I thought he was clever), but if there's one thing they do know it's security.

      1. David 132 Silver badge
        Unhappy

        >this whole war, for instance, is an act of almost unbelievable foot-shooting idiocy on Putin's part

        Yes.

        Now, call me paranoid, but is it too idiotic?

        I mean - leaving the Ukrainian airforce at least semi-functional (MiGs and drones); leaving the comms and power networks up; neglecting to ensure that logistics keep pace with frontline units, leading to those units running out of fuel & supplies; lining up your mobile units in a "40 mile long" convoy (according to latest reports) where they're a sitting duck for aforesaid drones; dropping clusterbombs on civilian areas... surely these are what might be termed schoolboy errors? OK, with the exception of that last one, because Putin has previously shown that he doesn't give a rat's anus about the Geneva Convention or international norms.

        Is Putin planning something very, very devious? Is all this just a distraction while he does the "real" stuff somewhere outside the gaze of the world's media? Is he winding the West in to his trap, waiting for the right time to say with a straight face "NATO is fighting against us in all but name, they have cornered us, this is the final battle for the Glory Of Mother Russia(TM), I am entirely justified in going nuclear"? Is he willing to tolerate making his armed forces look feeble in the short term, knowing that there will be a "payoff" that will make everyone forget the last five days' struggle?

        1. wolfetone Silver badge

          "I mean - leaving the Ukrainian airforce at least semi-functional (MiGs and drones); leaving the comms and power networks up; neglecting to ensure that logistics keep pace with frontline units, leading to those units running out of fuel & supplies; lining up your mobile units in a "40 mile long" convoy (according to latest reports) where they're a sitting duck for aforesaid drones; dropping clusterbombs on civilian areas... surely these are what might be termed schoolboy errors? OK, with the exception of that last one, because Putin has previously shown that he doesn't give a rat's anus about the Geneva Convention or international norms."

          It's almost as if he wants to lose, isn't it?

        2. JimboSmith

          According to the Russian (State) TASS news service, the Russians are now targeting buildings in Kyiv and have advised people living near hardened targets to leave. They’ve dropped the sham statements that they weren’t targeting civilians.

          https://twitter.com/polinaivanovva/status/1498648659487076362?

          The people of Ukraine need All the help anyone can give.

          1. Helcat Silver badge

            "They’ve dropped the sham statements that they weren’t targeting civilians."

            They weren't >targeting<. just hitting... accidentally, of course... by aiming at what was right next to them...

            Semantics, I know, but that's the military (and often, media) mentality.

        3. veti Silver badge

          What exactly would "going nuclear" gain him?

          No, Putin made a number of gambles that looked to him like good bets, and they mostly turned bad. That happens to the best of us from time to time, but we usually have more sense than to wager our entire country on them.

          I've no doubt that Putin will eventually identify some silver lining, and then he'll pretend that was all he really cared about all along. That's how unprincipled opportunists, like both him and his friend Trump, maintain their reputation for smarts. But so far he's managed to achieve everything he least wanted - including, worst of all, making his own army look incompetent. That's one of the few things that could cost him his job, and quite possibly his life, in a matter of days. Generals tend to have limited tolerance for that particular brand of blunder.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            "Generals tend to have limited tolerance for that particular brand of blunder."

            In the Stalin playbook - any dissenting general gets the chop - possibly literally.

            1. veti Silver badge

              Even in Stalin's day, Zhukov trumped Beria. It's not an easy thing to do, to police the army.

              The last time the Soviet army attempted a coup was in 1991, but it was closely involved in politics again in 1993 (when it stormed the offices of the Supreme Soviet), and I doubt it's completely forgotten about that.

      2. Helcat Silver badge

        Apparently, the EV chargers around Moscow stopped working and started showing pro-Ukraine messages, such as 'Putin is a D-head'.

        From what was reported - by a Russian source - this was due to the units being sourced from a Ukrainian business that happened to have a 'back door' into the units... and decided to take advantage of that.

        That does suggest the Russians weren't covering all bases when they decided to go after one of their infrastructure suppliers home turf...

    2. JimboSmith

      Anonymous decided to join in last week declaring Cyberwar against Russia. Over the Weekend targeted Russian TV, the Russian government amongst other things.

      https://twitter.com/youranonone?lang=en

      It feels wrong for me to be saying this but, more power to their keyboard, I hope they do much more damage like that to Russia in the coming days.

    3. Paul Hovnanian Silver badge

      In other words, Patch Tuesday.

      1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Yeah! I'm eating pancakes today!. Oh...wait..."patch" Tuesday. Sorry, carry on :-)

        1. jake Silver badge

          Thankfully, there is nothing stopping you from eating pancakes any day you choose. Where do you think this is, Russia?

  2. jake Silver badge

    Microsoft could best help ...

    ... by offering Russia all the free technical aid it wants.

    1. Dagg Silver badge

      Re: Microsoft could best help ...

      Jake you forgot to add the sarcasm tags so the septics could get it.

      1. jake Silver badge

        Re: Microsoft could best help ...

        a) I am a Yank.

        b) That wasn't sarcasm.

        1. Dagg Silver badge

          Re: Microsoft could best help ...

          Actually that remark was sarcastic you just didn't realise.

  3. Andre Carneiro

    What about Apple

    The Cupertino woke-central is remarkably tight-lipped about all this.

    They are, of course, under no obligation or requirement to pick sides but it is interesting nonetheless....

    1. Waseem Alkurdi

      Re: What about Apple

      That same Apple that has thoroughly submitted to the China regime?

      Too thin of a backbone to take a stand.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: What about Apple

      @Andre Carneiro

      I find this hard to believe. This is a thread about an appallingly tragic situation, and your 10 pennorth worth is to have a go ar Apple? Words fail me.

      For what it is worth, not that it will enough for you, Apple have halted all sales in Russia.

      https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/03/apple-halts-all-device-sales-in-russia-in-response-to-invasion-of-ukraine/

      1. Andre Carneiro

        Re: What about Apple

        @idiot

        I am sorry that you feel offended by my post. I was merely pointing out that I found it out of character that whilst most tech companies were indeed making a statement, Apple wasn't.

        And yes I am aware that they eventually followed suit so my post is now moot, but thank you for the update anyway.

  4. Securitymoose
    FAIL

    What about another service update to Windows for Russia?

    That usually completely screws my systems.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Customers?

    "... where the Ukrainian government and many other organizations and individuals are our customers."

    Here's what you do.... create some software then advertise it to the world that it's being used in the Congo or wherever (but not the Congo as that's not currently trending). Don't actually help, just trend it to get your name in the pot of companies that "care".

    With the money Microsoft has, they could hire a serious amount of mercs. to go help the fight. Of course, that would be taking sides and that's well out of scope of advertising.

    1. veti Silver badge

      Re: Customers?

      Yes, and when the mercs are filmed shelling hospitals and burning orphanages - as pretty much always happens sooner or later - what then?

      Let people defend Ukraine for the love of their country and their people, not just for money.

  6. Avatar of They
    Thumb Up

    Need to remember

    Both Apple and MS need to think about how Russians get their internet and news.

    Yes they could kill switch everything. But then no truth will come out of Russia and their people will not see the truth from the rest of the world.

    But all credit to MS for taking a lead in defence on the internet.

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