In a striking move amidst ongoing hostilities, the pro-Ukrainian hacking group known as Silent Crow has reportedly launched a cyber-attack on Aeroflot, Russia's national airline. This action led to the cancellation of more than 40 flights, predominantly within Russia, as well as routes extending to Belarus and Armenia. The hackers asserted in a Telegram post that their "prolonged and large-scale operation... completely destroyed" Aeroflot's IT systems.
In response to the attack, Aeroflot stated that it encountered significant issues with its information systems, causing widespread delays, which have raised concern among passengers and the Kremlin. Silent Crow vowed to publish "the personal data of all Russians who have ever flown Aeroflot," ending their message with a fervent expression of support for Ukraine and Belarus.
The Belarusian hacking group Cyberpartisans, often associated with pro-Ukrainian efforts, confirmed their collaboration with Silent Crow, stating, "We are helping Ukrainians in their fight with the occupier, carrying out a cyber strike on Aeroflot and paralysing the largest airline in Russia." Anton Gorelkin, a member of the Russian parliament, acknowledged the threat posed by cyberattacks, emphasizing the multi-faceted nature of the conflict against Russia.
While the BBC has been unable to independently verify the scale of disruption claimed by Silent Crow, the Russian prosecutor's office has confirmed a failure in Aeroflot's information system attributed to the hackers, leading to the initiation of a criminal investigation. Passengers impacted by the cancellations are being rebooked on alternative flights operated by different airlines.
The ongoing battle between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian hacker groups has intensified since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite the frequent claims of success made by these groups, the actual impact of their operations remains uncertain. This latest incident, however, has visibly affected a major Russian company, highlighting the growing trend of cyber warfare alongside traditional military confrontations.
Previous months have seen Russian travel significantly disrupted, notably with hundreds of flights cancelled due to Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow's key airports. The turbulent environment showcases the realities of modern conflict, where both physical and digital realms are battlegrounds in the fight for supremacy.
In response to the attack, Aeroflot stated that it encountered significant issues with its information systems, causing widespread delays, which have raised concern among passengers and the Kremlin. Silent Crow vowed to publish "the personal data of all Russians who have ever flown Aeroflot," ending their message with a fervent expression of support for Ukraine and Belarus.
The Belarusian hacking group Cyberpartisans, often associated with pro-Ukrainian efforts, confirmed their collaboration with Silent Crow, stating, "We are helping Ukrainians in their fight with the occupier, carrying out a cyber strike on Aeroflot and paralysing the largest airline in Russia." Anton Gorelkin, a member of the Russian parliament, acknowledged the threat posed by cyberattacks, emphasizing the multi-faceted nature of the conflict against Russia.
While the BBC has been unable to independently verify the scale of disruption claimed by Silent Crow, the Russian prosecutor's office has confirmed a failure in Aeroflot's information system attributed to the hackers, leading to the initiation of a criminal investigation. Passengers impacted by the cancellations are being rebooked on alternative flights operated by different airlines.
The ongoing battle between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian hacker groups has intensified since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite the frequent claims of success made by these groups, the actual impact of their operations remains uncertain. This latest incident, however, has visibly affected a major Russian company, highlighting the growing trend of cyber warfare alongside traditional military confrontations.
Previous months have seen Russian travel significantly disrupted, notably with hundreds of flights cancelled due to Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow's key airports. The turbulent environment showcases the realities of modern conflict, where both physical and digital realms are battlegrounds in the fight for supremacy.
