Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Strike Aeroflot, Air Travel Disrupted Across Russia

A significant hacking incident has led to the cancellation of over 50 Aeroflot flights, prompting investigations and raising concerns in Russia.

On Monday, Russia's national airline Aeroflot announced the cancellation of more than 50 round-trip flights after a pro-Ukrainian hacker group claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack. The event has sparked a criminal investigation by Russian prosecutors and garnered alarm from the Kremlin, which described the situation as "concerning."

This hacking incident occurs within a broader context of escalating cyber warfare and physical attacks targeting Russian infrastructure. Ukrainian drones have recently struck locations near Russian airports, significantly impacting air travel just as the vacation season picks up, resulting in frequent disruptions across major Russian cities.

Aeroflot reported a total of 56 cancellations out of its 260 scheduled round-trip flights, primarily affecting domestic routes, though some international flights were included. The airline also stated that its ticket refund system was unavailable due to the outages caused by the attack, and many users were unable to access personal accounts on the Aeroflot website.

In a related incident just last week, over 50 passenger trains in southern Russia experienced delays after a drone hit a key railway station. Further drone strikes targeted the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, resulting in casualties and the evacuation of hotels.

Experts suggest that these cyberattacks may be part of a strategic campaign aimed at unsettling daily life in Russia amid the ongoing conflict. Valery Shiryaev, a Russian war analyst, noted the coordinated timing of the disruptions to coincide with the peak travel season, raising the stakes for impacted travelers.

The hacking group Silent Crow, which claimed the Aeroflot attack, stated it collaborated with another group, Cyber Partisans, to execute a well-planned operation that breached Aeroflot’s data systems. Cyber Partisans indicated their intent to continue targeting Russian entities as long as they perceived threats to Belarus and Ukraine's sovereignty.

While the hackers did not provide verifiable evidence for their claims, Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor assured the public that no sensitive data from airline customers or employees had been compromised.

Earlier this year, Silent Crow had similarly claimed responsibility for attacks on various Russian sectors, including real estate and telecommunications, highlighting the ongoing cyber conflict. Dmitri Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, acknowledged the persistent threat of hacking against major corporations.

As tensions remain high and the conflict persists, these cyber incidents suggest an intensifying backdrop of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, leaving many wondering how further disruptions will affect daily life in both nations.