The Russian airline Aeroflot canceled numerous flights on Monday following claims by a pro-Ukraine hacking group that it had carried out a disruptive cyberattack.
The airline did not elaborate on the cause or expected resolution time, but departure screens at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport showed widespread cancellations during a peak travel period.
Officials described the situation as concerning, with authorities confirming a cyberattack as the cause and initiating an investigation.
A message attributed to a group named Silent Crow stated it conducted the breach alongside Belarusian hackers Cyber Partisans, framing it as a response to the conflict in Ukraine.
“Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!” read the statement, which CuriosityNews could not immediately verify.
Silent Crow has previously claimed attacks this year on Russian entities, including a real estate database, a telecoms provider, a major insurer, and government IT systems, leading to significant data leaks in some cases.
“Reports circulating publicly are quite serious. Cyber threats remain a challenge for all major service providers,” a Kremlin representative stated, adding that further details would be sought.
Aeroflot, the transport ministry, and aviation authorities did not immediately address the hacking allegations.
The airline reported an information system failure, leading to over 50 cancellations—mostly domestic but also affecting flights to Minsk and Yerevan—with at least 10 additional delays.
“Efforts are underway to limit disruptions and restore normal operations,” the company said.
The Silent Crow statement alleged the attack resulted from a year-long infiltration of Aeroflot’s network, disabling thousands of servers and compromising employee devices. No evidence was provided.
It warned of plans to release passenger data from the airline.
Since the start of Russia's military actions in Ukraine, flight delays have become frequent, though often due to security concerns rather than cyber incidents.
Frustrated passengers criticized the airline on social platforms for inadequate communication.
One traveler posted, “Stranded at Volgograd airport since 3:30!!! Flight postponed three times!!! Now set for around 14:50!!!”
Read next
IEA set to urge unprecedented stockpile oil release to lower crude prices
The International Energy Agency is set to request the biggest drawdown of state oil reserves ever recorded, aiming to soothe the price surge sparked by the US‑Israeli strikes on Iran.
The global energy monitor is anticipated to urge its 32 members to free roughly 400 million barrels of emergency
How far could oil prices climb, and what could be the worldwide economic consequences?
Concerns about the world economy have intensified as oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel following the US‑Israel clash with Iran.
Economists warn that a growing chance of an extended war in the key energy‑exporting zone could severely affect living standards globally, reviving fears of a fresh
UK job market stalls as firms stay cautious on hiring
Data indicate that the UK labour market is struggling under weak recruitment demand, with only modest indications of improvement.
Two reports issued on Monday note that firms stay wary of taking on new employees because of cost pressures and economic uncertainty, underscoring the market’s continued fragility.
The monthly employment