Cyberattack on Aeroflot: What Happened, Who Is Behind It, and How It Affects You If You're Traveling in Russia
A massive cyberattack attributed to pro-Ukrainian hackers has crippled Aeroflot's operations, forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights and exposing critical vulnerabilities.
Russia's flag carrier, Aeroflot, is facing a severe operational crisis this Monday after suffering a far-reaching cyberattack that brought down its IT infrastructure. The incident forced the company to cancel over 40 flights and delay at least a dozen more, causing chaos at airports across the country, including its main hub at Moscow-Sheremetyevo (SVO).
Responsibility for the attack was claimed by a hacktivist group calling itself Silent Crow, which stated it acted in concert with the Belarusian group Cyberpartisans BY. In a statement whose authenticity is being analyzed, the attackers directly linked their actions to the war in Ukraine. "Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!" concluded the group's message, which, according to Reuters, has a history of attacks against other Russian entities.
The hackers claim the operation was the result of a year-long effort to infiltrate Aeroflot's network, asserting they have destroyed 7,000 servers and gained control over employee computers, including those of senior managers. Furthermore, they issued a serious threat: the imminent release of "the personal data of all Russians who have ever flown Aeroflot."
What You Need to Know
What happened? A massive cyberattack affected Aeroflot's reservation, dispatch, and operational systems.
Who is behind it? A pro-Ukrainian hacker group called Silent Crow, in collaboration with Cyberpartisans BY.
What is the immediate impact? Over 40 flights were canceled and numerous delays occurred, primarily on domestic routes but also to Minsk (Belarus) and Yerevan (Armenia).
What is the Russian government saying? The Kremlin deems it "alarming," and the prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation.
The impact on passengers was immediate. Stranded travelers at airports like Volgograd voiced their frustration on social media regarding the lack of information and continuous schedule changes. The airline's website and mobile app became inaccessible, preventing customers from managing their bookings or requesting refunds. Aeroflot stated it is working to mitigate the impact and restore normal operations, offering refunds or rebookings once its systems are back online.
The Russian government's reaction was swift. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation as "quite alarming" and acknowledged the persistent threat hackers pose to large service companies. Meanwhile, lawmaker Anton Gorelkin, a key figure in Russia's digital policy, declared that "the war against our country is being waged on all fronts, including the digital one," suggesting the hacktivists could be in the service of "unfriendly states." The Prosecutor General's Office of Russia confirmed the incident was the result of a hack and has already launched a criminal investigation.
This event highlights the vulnerability of Russia's digital infrastructure, particularly in a sector like aviation, which has been operating under heavy international sanctions since 2022. Despite these restrictions, Aeroflot carried 55.3 million passengers last year, remaining one of the world's top 20 airlines by volume.
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