Russia's national airline Aeroflot has reported significant operational disruptions following claims of a cyber-attack by the pro-Ukrainian hacker group Silent Crow. The group, in coordination with Belarusian hackers known as Cyberpartisans, announced through their Telegram channel that they executed a "prolonged and large-scale operation" that they claimed "completely destroyed" Aeroflot's IT systems.
Officials from Aeroflot confirmed the cancellation of more than 40 flights, primarily affecting domestic routes within Russia and some international flights to Belarus and Armenia. The Kremlin expressed concern over the incident, labeling it "worrying" as the airline also faced widespread delays due to issues related to its information systems.
Silent Crow threatened to release the personal data of all Russian citizens who have traveled with Aeroflot, concluding their statement with slogans of solidarity for Ukraine and Belarus. The Belarusian group Cyberpartisans, which has previously engaged in cyber operations against Russian and Belarusian entities, stated their support for Ukraine's resistance against what they termed the occupiers.
In response, Anton Gorelkin, a member of the Russian parliament, highlighted the digital front of the ongoing conflict, urging all to remember the multifaceted nature of warfare. Despite hacker groups often inflating their achievements, the Russian prosecutor's office has confirmed a breach that disrupted the airline’s operational systems, prompting a criminal investigation.
Amid this escalating cyber warfare, a number of passengers have been redirected to alternative flights operated by different carriers. Both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian hacker groups have shown heightened activity since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, frequently resulting in significant service disruptions for travelers in the region.
The recent attack on Aeroflot represents a notable incident impacting a major Russian corporation, affecting thousands of civilians and underscoring the broader implications of cyber conflicts in the ongoing war.
