Ukraine reported a massive cyber attack on key government websites on Friday as tensions with Russia escalate following several rounds of unsuccessful talks.
In a statement on Facebook, the education ministry said that its website was down due to a "global (cyber) attack" that had taken place overnight.
Other websites that were down included that of the cabinet and the foreign and emergencies ministries.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Russia has previously denied being behind cyber attacks on Ukraine.
"Ukrainian! All your personal data was uploaded to the public network. All data on the computer is destroyed, it is impossible to restore it," said a message visible on hacked government websites, written in Ukrainian, Russian and Polish.
"All information about you has become public, be afraid and expect the worst. This is for your past, present and future."
The attack comes as tensions between Russia and the West soar over Ukraine, a strategic ex-Soviet country.
On Thursday, the European Union prolonged economic sanctions against Russia for six months for failing to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.
The measures target Russia’s financial, energy and defense sectors, as well as goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. They are part of a raft of sanctions slapped on Russia in 2014 after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, and are tied to respect of the 2015 Minsk peace deal.
Now, the EU renewed the sanctions, which will remain in place until at least July 31, as Russia “did not fully implement” the peace agreement.
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