Aeroflot faced significant operational disruption as pro-Ukrainian hackers claimed responsibility for a cyber attack on its IT systems, leading to the cancellation of over 40 flights and raising concerns in Moscow.
Pro-Ukrainian Hacking Group Targets Aeroflot, Claims Cyber Attack
Pro-Ukrainian Hacking Group Targets Aeroflot, Claims Cyber Attack
The hacker collective Silent Crow, in collaboration with Cyberpartisans, disrupts Aeroflot’s operations, prompting a criminal investigation in Russia.
Aeroflot, Russia's national airline, has encountered significant operational setbacks following a cyber attack allegedly conducted by the pro-Ukrainian hacker group Silent Crow, in collaboration with the Belarusian collective Cyberpartisans. The scandal emerged as Silent Crow boasted on Telegram of the success of their "prolonged and large-scale operation," which they claimed had entirely dismantled Aeroflot's IT capabilities.
As a result of the attack, the airline announced the cancellation of more than 40 flights, including those scheduled within Russia and to Belarus and Armenia. Worryingly, Aeroflot reported widespread delays attributed to a malfunction in its information systems. The Kremlin's response has underscored the seriousness of the situation, with officials describing the disruptions as concerning.
In its Telegram post, Silent Crow further threatened to release sensitive personal data belonging to "all Russians who have ever flown Aeroflot," ending the announcement with a phrase supportive of Ukraine and Belarusian independence. This provocation drew reactions from Russian MP Anton Gorelkin, who asserted the existence of a digital front in the ongoing war, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the conflict.
While hacker groups are known for claiming more than they actually achieve, the Russian prosecutor's office has confirmed the occurrence of a failure in Aeroflot's information system due to a hacker attack, prompting the initiation of a criminal investigation. Meanwhile, alternative arrangements are being made for the affected passengers through other carriers.
The ongoing turbulence is a rare instance where a cyber assault has evidently disrupted a major Russian enterprise, impacting countless civilians. The active involvement of the Belarusian group Cyberpartisans, which asserts its commitment to aiding Ukraine against Russian occupations, further intensifies the scrutiny on the evolving landscape of cyber warfare.
These frequent attacks in the ongoing conflict context reflect a broader trend since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with travel disruptions becoming commonplace, particularly after recent Ukrainian drone assaults that similarly grounded hundreds of flights in Moscow earlier this summer.
