Digital Dogfight: Pro-Ukraine Hackers Cripple Aeroflot in Major Cyberattack

 

Cyberattack Grounds Aeroflot: Hackers Claim Year-Long Infiltration of Russian Airline

Russia’s flagship airline, Aeroflot, was forced to cancel over 50 flights on July 28 after a massive cyberattack allegedly orchestrated by pro-Ukrainian hacker group Silent Crow, in collaboration with Belarusian activists Cyber Partisans BY.

What Happened?

• Aeroflot reported a failure in its information systems, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays, including routes to Minsk, Yerevan, and several Russian cities.
• The hacker groups claimed they had infiltrated Aeroflot’s network for over a year, ultimately destroying 7,000 servers and accessing 20 terabytes of data, including employee computers and surveillance systems.
• The Kremlin confirmed the incident was a cyberattack and launched a criminal investigation.

Hacker Statement

• Silent Crow declared the attack was a message to Russia’s intelligence agencies:
  “You are incapable of protecting even your most critical infrastructure.”
• They threatened to release personal data of all Russians who have ever flown Aeroflot, raising serious privacy concerns.

Passenger Chaos

• Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport saw chaotic scenes as passengers scrambled for information, refunds, and rebookings.
• Aeroflot’s website, app, and call center were reportedly inaccessible, leaving travelers stranded.

Broader Implications

• This marks one of the largest cyberattacks on Russian infrastructure since the war in Ukraine began.
• Experts warn it could signal a new phase in cyber warfare, targeting state-run enterprises and critical infrastructure.