Cyberattack Disrupts Moscow Flights Amid Rising Tensions

A significant disruption in air travel occurred in Moscow due to what appears to be a targeted cyberattack by pro-Ukrainian hacker groups. The Russian national airline, Aeroflot, reported that approximately 60 flights were canceled at Sheremetyevo Airport, attributing the issue to malfunctions in their IT systems. Aeroflot's technical teams are currently engaged in efforts to restore normal operations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov addressed the situation, labeling it as concerning and highlighting the ongoing threat posed by cyberattacks to major enterprises serving the public.

According to statements from hacker groups Silent Crow and Cyberpartisan BY, they executed a planned operation against Aeroflot that had been in preparation for a year. In response, the Russian General Prosecutor's Office has initiated a criminal investigation into the unauthorized access to the airline's computer systems.

The hackers claimed to have gained complete control over Aeroflot's IT infrastructure, alleging the destruction of around 7,000 servers and the collection of 12 terabytes of data. They positioned this incident as a message to Russian cybersecurity agencies, such as the FSB, indicating their failure to defend critical IT assets.

Passengers traveling during this disruption found themselves stranded at Sheremetyevo, with instructions to keep an eye on the travel information displays. Many travelers were required to reclaim their luggage and exit the airport as the cancellations affected both domestic and international flights.

This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of operational challenges faced by Russian air traffic, which has also been impacted in recent weeks by drone threats linked to Ukraine. The ongoing conflict has severely restricted passenger flights in Ukraine for over three years, with many commentators noting that this disruption may provide Russians with a glimpse into the limitations imposed by the conflict.

The situation continues to evolve, with implications for air travel and cybersecurity as tensions between Russia and Ukraine persist.