Russian drone company's significant data, backups, and systems were dismantled by Ukrainian hackers, according to their claims
In a significant development, Ukrainian hacktivist groups BO Team and the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, in coordination with Ukraine’s military intelligence, have claimed to have disrupted the operations of Gaskar Group, a major Russian drone supplier.
The cyberattack, described as "paralyzing", has reportedly resulted in the seizure of control over Gaskar Group’s network and server infrastructure. Over 250 systems, including 46 virtual servers and more than 200 workstations, were destroyed, according to the groups' announcements.
Additionally, 47 terabytes of corporate data and an additional 10 terabytes of backups were erased, and sensitive personal information of employees, such as home addresses and family details, were stolen. Confidential technical data related to the production of Russian drones was reportedly extracted and shared with Ukrainian Defense Forces specialists.
The attack also disabled internet services, production software, and accounting systems, effectively crippling operations at Gaskar’s development center. Internal doors were even locked remotely, forcing an emergency evacuation of the facility staff.
The attack is expected to prevent thousands of drones from reaching the front lines in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a crucial blow to Russia's military drone program amid the ongoing conflict.
However, Gaskar Group has not publicly acknowledged or confirmed the severity of the attack, and its website remains operational as of the latest reports. The U.S. has been waging war with purpose-built UAVs for decades, whereas the conflict in Ukraine has involved the use of hobbyist-grade drones in warfare.
The war in Ukraine has been characterised by an unprecedented scale of drone deployment, with both Russia and Ukraine using drones, large and small, in attacks against each other. A notable example was Operation Spiderweb, which occurred in June, during which Ukraine reportedly destroyed dozens of Russian warplanes using drones.
Disrupting the supply of drones to Russia is vital to Ukraine's efforts to counter Putin's invasive forces. It is possible that hacking groups, such as BO Team and the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, could disprove Gaskar Group's claims by publishing additional information or conducting similar operations against other drone suppliers within Russia.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency reportedly confirmed the attack, marking a significant blow to Russia's military drone program amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in warfare isn't novel, but the Russia-Ukraine conflict has turned hobbyist-grade drones into weapons of war. The tiny, inexpensive first-person view drone has become one of the most potent weapons in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
- The cyberattack on Gaskar Group, a major Russian drone supplier, caused significant damage to their network and server infrastructure, disrupting the operations of the company and potentially hampering Russia's military drone program in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
- In the context of the war in Ukraine, where drones have become weapons of war, disruptions in the supply and production of drones, such as that inflicted on Gaskar Group, can be considered a crucial part of Ukraine's efforts to counteract Putin's invasive forces, given the strategic role of drones in modern warfare and technology.
