Repeated outages hit Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Monday, disrupting services worldwide. Musk pointed to a “massive cyberattack” from the “Ukraine area,” but a pro-Palestinian hacker group has since claimed responsibility, leaving questions about the true origin of the attack.
Global Outages Disrupt X, Musk Alleges Ukraine Link
X, formerly Twitter, suffered multiple outages throughout Monday, frustrating users across the globe. According to Downdetector, over 39,000 outage reports came from the United States alone at the peak of the disruption. Many users found themselves unable to post, refresh feeds, or access key platform features.
Musk, speaking with Fox News’ Larry Kudlow, claimed the attack originated from IP addresses linked to Ukraine. “We’re not sure exactly what happened, but there was a massive cyberattack to bring down the X system,” he said. However, cybersecurity experts remain skeptical, noting that Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks don’t necessarily require state sponsorship or large-scale coordination.
Hacker Group Claims Responsibility
Shortly after Musk’s remarks, the pro-Palestinian hacker group Dark Storm Team took responsibility via a public Telegram channel. The group has a history of targeting organizations and countries supporting Israel’s military actions in Gaza. If their claim is legitimate, it would contradict Musk’s Ukraine theory.
The attack itself was a DDoS assault, which floods systems with fake traffic until they become inoperable. A source from the internet infrastructure industry, speaking to Reuters, described the attack as “multiple waves of denial-of-service attacks beginning at 9:45 UTC.” Despite not being particularly sophisticated, such attacks can overwhelm even robust online platforms.
Musk’s Ukraine Stance Sparks Controversy
Musk’s remarks come amid ongoing tension between him and Ukraine’s leadership. The billionaire has been vocal about his concerns regarding the war, previously claiming Ukraine’s military “would collapse” without his Starlink satellite service. Although he has maintained support for Ukraine’s internet access, his criticisms of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have drawn backlash.
During the X outages, Musk responded to critics questioning his stance on Ukraine. “I literally challenged Putin to one-on-one combat over Ukraine, and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army,” he posted. “What I am sickened by is years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose.”
Speculation and Skepticism Over Attack’s Origins
The conflicting narratives about the attack’s source have raised concerns among cybersecurity analysts. While Musk linked the incident to Ukraine, experts argue that attributing cyberattacks is notoriously difficult. Some point out that IP addresses can be easily spoofed, making it hard to determine true origins.
- Denial-of-service attacks are common, and many are carried out by small hacker groups, not nation-states.
- Attributing attacks to a specific country is tricky, as cybercriminals often use compromised servers in other nations to mask their locations.
- The political context matters, given Musk’s increasing criticism of Ukraine and his recent alignment with figures questioning U.S. aid to Kyiv.
Platform Stability and Future Threats
By Monday evening, X services had largely stabilized, with reported outages dropping below 1,500. However, concerns remain over future cyberattacks. Musk has previously suggested that X is under “constant attack,” but Monday’s incident demonstrated the platform’s vulnerability.
Cybersecurity experts warn that DDoS attacks, while disruptive, are just one of many threats facing online platforms. If Dark Storm Team was indeed responsible, the attack may have been politically motivated. If Musk’s allegations hold weight, the attack could have geopolitical ramifications.
