Ransomware shuts Slovakia's land registry office UGKK, stalling property deals

Slovakia's Office of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre, known as UGKK, was hit by a ransomware attack in early January 2025 that forced it to shut down its systems and close cadastral offices. Agriculture Minister Richard Takac, whose ministry oversees the office, described it at a January 10 press conference as the largest cyberattack in the country's history.

The office maintains Slovakia's land and property records. With its systems offline, property transactions stalled, the mortgage market was effectively frozen and citizens could not obtain documents proving ownership. Proceedings involving immovable property were suspended, and municipal services that draw on registry data were disrupted, including parking permit issuance in Bratislava.

Local media reported the attackers demanded a ransom in the millions of euros; Infosecurity Magazine described it as a seven figure sum. Takac said systems would be rebuilt from backups and that there was no risk of ownership records being altered or fraudulently transferred. The Interior Ministry confirmed the breach, and the national unit for combating organized crime opened an investigation. Cadastral offices closed or ran at limited capacity from January 9, with physical reopening set for January 13.

Takac said there were strong indications the attack came from Ukraine, without providing evidence, and Ukraine did not comment. Infosecurity Magazine quoted cyber policy analyst Pavlina Pavlova, who said the government was politicizing the incident against a backdrop of tension over Russian gas transit. The nationalist SNS party called for the Ukrainian ambassador to be summoned.