Russian Airline Aeroflot Hit by Major Cyberattack, Pro-Ukrainian Hacker Group Claims Responsibility
Russia's national airline, Aeroflot, has suffered a significant cyberattack, forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights. The hacker group Silent Crow has claimed responsibility for the attack, a claim further supported by reports of a joint operation with the Belarusian hacktivist group, Cyber Partisans BY.
Hacking Operation Details
The group alleges they executed a long and large-scale operation
leading to the complete destruction of Aeroflot's internal IT infrastructure. Silent Crow claimed that they destroyed 7,000 servers in the attack, causing substantial disruption to the airline's operations. This has resulted in more than 50 flights being axed, with another 20 delayed, according to The Guardian and Fox News.
Official Reactions
The Kremlin has labeled these reports as alarming
, as conveyed by TASS, the Russian state news agency. It further reported that the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia has confirmed that the airline's information systems were brought down by a hacker attack, launching a criminal investigation into the incident.
Aeroflot has warned of possible adjustments to the flight schedule due to this failure in the operation of information systems. By midday, it managed to operate 76 out of the 123 scheduled flights to and from Moscow. However, a total of 54 round flights scheduled for July 28 were cancelled, as reported by the Transport Ministry.
Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Claim
The pro-Ukrainian hacker group, Silent Crow, seemingly relished the chaos, issuing a statement proclaiming, Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!
on Telegram. This assertion of responsibility was reported by Fox News and BBC News. The disruptiveness of the attack appears to have been the group's main aim, possibly intending to disrupt the sense of normalcy Russians have mostly enjoyed since the start of the war, according to the New York Times.
Current Status and Implications
At present, the major disruption caused by the cyberattack continues to affect Aeroflot's operations. The airline remains in the process of restoring its IT infrastructure, with no clear timeline on when full functionality will be restored.
This incident underscores the increasing use of cyber warfare tactics and the potential for substantial disruption they can cause to critical infrastructure. The alleged involvement of Belarusian hacktivist group Cyber Partisans BY alongside Silent Crow also suggests an expanding network of hacktivist groups working in collaboration.
Silent Crow's attack on Aeroflot is a stark reminder of the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, now spilling over into cyber warfare. As the international community watches on, the ripple effects of this incident are yet to be fully understood.