The Kremlin has called the recent cyber-attack on Aeroflot “worrying” after Russia’s flagship airline was forced to cancel over 40 flights and delay dozens more. The disruption hit primarily domestic routes, with cancellations extending to flights bound for Belarus and Armenia.
A post on Telegram, attributed to pro-Ukraine group Silent Crow, claimed responsibility alongside Belarusian Cyber Partisans. They boasted that their “prolonged and large-scale operation” had entirely destroyed Aeroflot’s information systems and threatened to leak the personal data of every Russian who ever flew with the carrier.
Aeroflot confirmed an IT-system failure and said the transport ministry would rebook affected passengers on other carriers. The Russian prosecutor’s office has launched a criminal investigation into what it officially terms a hacker attack.
Lawmakers warned that modern warfare spans digital battlefields as well as traditional fronts. MP Anton Gorelkin stressed that cyber-assaults form part of the ongoing conflict against Russia.
Hacktivist outfits on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war frequently overstate their cyber successes, but this incident stands out for its clear, immediate impact on tens of thousands of civilians. Silent Crow and the Cyber Partisans, active since 2022, have carved out reputations by targeting state-run entities in Russia and Belarus.
Russian travelers have already faced recent turmoil from Ukrainian drone strikes, including July’s mass cancellations at Moscow’s four main airports. This latest cyber-strike underscores the diverse threats now converging on the country’s transport infrastructure.
Credit:BBC
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