Pro-Ukrainian hacker group Silent Crow has claimed a cyber assault on Aeroflot, Russia's leading airline, which has resulted in the cancellation of over 40 flights and operational issues. The group, in collaboration with Belarusian hackers, aims to disrupt Russian infrastructure amid ongoing conflict between the nations.
Pro-Ukraine Hackers Claim Responsibility for Aeroflot Cyber Attack
Pro-Ukraine Hackers Claim Responsibility for Aeroflot Cyber Attack
Pro-Ukraine group Silent Crow announces attack on Russia's national airline, causing flight cancellations and disruptions.
Aeroflot, Russia's national airline, confirmed that it had to cancel more than 40 flights, primarily those operating within Russia, along with routes to neighboring countries like Belarus and Armenia, due to what appears to be a coordinated cyber-attack from the pro-Ukrainian hacker group Silent Crow. The group announced their involvement through a post on Telegram, claiming the attack "completely destroyed" Aeroflot’s IT operations, with intentions to release sensitive data about all individuals who have flown with the airline.
In response to the incident, the Kremlin expressed concern over the attack, labeling it "worrying." Anton Gorelkin, a Russian MP, remarked on the multi-faceted nature of the conflict, emphasizing the ongoing digital warfare alongside military confrontations. While the veracity of Silent Crow’s claims has not been independently verified by the BBC, the Russian prosecutor’s office acknowledged the disruption caused by the hack and initiated a criminal investigation.
Since the commencement of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian hacker groups have engaged in a continuous digital battle, often inflating the success of their operations. Analysis suggests that many hacker organizations operating in this space are comprised of volunteers targeting adversaries, and their claims are frequently difficult to substantiate.
This cyber attack marks a notable event as it visibly impacts a major Russian corporation, thereby affecting thousands of civilians. Silent Crow’s collaboration with the Belarusian group Cyber Partisans, who have been executing attacks since 2022 in solidarity with the Ukrainian cause, highlights the interconnectedness of various hacktivist collectives that view such actions as forms of resistance against perceived authoritarian regimes.
Disruptions in Russian air travel have become increasingly common, particularly in light of recent Ukrainian drone strikes which have also led to extensive cancellations across Moscow's airports. As tensions continue to rise, the battlefield has expanded into the technological realm, with both sides adapting to the evolving landscape of cyber warfare.
In response to the incident, the Kremlin expressed concern over the attack, labeling it "worrying." Anton Gorelkin, a Russian MP, remarked on the multi-faceted nature of the conflict, emphasizing the ongoing digital warfare alongside military confrontations. While the veracity of Silent Crow’s claims has not been independently verified by the BBC, the Russian prosecutor’s office acknowledged the disruption caused by the hack and initiated a criminal investigation.
Since the commencement of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian hacker groups have engaged in a continuous digital battle, often inflating the success of their operations. Analysis suggests that many hacker organizations operating in this space are comprised of volunteers targeting adversaries, and their claims are frequently difficult to substantiate.
This cyber attack marks a notable event as it visibly impacts a major Russian corporation, thereby affecting thousands of civilians. Silent Crow’s collaboration with the Belarusian group Cyber Partisans, who have been executing attacks since 2022 in solidarity with the Ukrainian cause, highlights the interconnectedness of various hacktivist collectives that view such actions as forms of resistance against perceived authoritarian regimes.
Disruptions in Russian air travel have become increasingly common, particularly in light of recent Ukrainian drone strikes which have also led to extensive cancellations across Moscow's airports. As tensions continue to rise, the battlefield has expanded into the technological realm, with both sides adapting to the evolving landscape of cyber warfare.
