The Surge of Cyber Warfare: Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Target Aeroflot

Wed Oct 22 2025 11:09:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Pro-Ukraine hacker group claims major cyber-attack on Russian airline Aeroflot, leading to flight cancellations and delays.

In a bold move, the hacker group Silent Crow, alongside Belarusian allies Cyberpartisans, has claimed responsibility for a cyber-attack on Aeroflot, disrupting operations and prompting cancellations of over 40 flights. The attack underscores escalating digital warfare amid the ongoing conflict, although the full extent of its impact remains to be confirmed.

In a striking episode in the ongoing digital warfare, the hacker group Silent Crow has claimed responsibility for a significant cyber-attack on Aeroflot, Russia's national airline, leaving the airline grappling with the fallout. The group, alongside the Belarusian cyber collective Cyberpartisans, announced via Telegram that their coordinated efforts had resulted in the total disruption of Aeroflot's IT systems.

Consequently, Aeroflot has canceled more than 40 flights—primarily domestic routes but also those to Belarus and Armenia—triggering immediate concerns from the Kremlin, which characterized the situation as "worrying." Passengers have reported widespread delays attributed to problems with the airline's information systems following the attack.

Silent Crow issued a chilling warning that it might release personal data of all individuals who have ever traveled with Aeroflot, stating, "Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!" This statement reflects the ongoing political and digital tension between Ukraine and Russia. Meanwhile, the Cyberpartisans reaffirmed their commitment to aiding Ukrainian resistance against Russian forces, denouncing the airline's operations as an extension of the Russian military's reach.

Anton Gorelkin, a Russian Member of Parliament, acknowledged the gravity of the attack, urging awareness that the conflict extends into the digital realm. While the exact repercussions of the hack remain uncertain, the Russian prosecutor's office has confirmed a disturbance in Aeroflot's operations, prompting a criminal investigation.

The veracity of Silent Crow's claims is difficult to ascertain, as hacker groups typically elevate their achievements for publicity purposes. Nevertheless, this incident is a notable exception, visibly impacting a major Russian enterprise and affecting many civilians. Silent Crow has highlighted its collaboration with Cyberpartisans, a group that has targeted various Russian and Belarusian interests since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

While numerous factions identify as "hacktivists" fighting for political causes, links to governmental agencies have been suggested among some groups, complicating the narrative. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, disruptions for travelers in Russia have surged, marked notably by recent drone attacks targeting airports.

As this cyber conflict continues to unfold, the implications for national security and civilian life illustrate a new dimension of warfare—one where digital battles are fought just as fiercely as those on the ground.