**Russia Accused of Hacking into Surveillance Cameras to Disrupt Ukraine Aid**
The Russian military intelligence service, GRU, has been accused of attempting to disrupt the flow of western aid to Ukraine by hacking into surveillance cameras positioned at key logistical points across Europe. According to a report by The Guardian on May 21, the claim was made in an advisory issued by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and supported by intelligence agencies from 10 other countries including the US, France, Germany, and Poland.
**GRU Unit 26165: A History of Major Cyber Operations**
The GRU unit behind this operation, known as APT 28 or Fancy Bear, has led major cyber operations in the past. These include leaking World Anti-Doping Agency data and the 2016 attack on the Democratic National Committee. Typically, they employ spearphishing and malware tactics to gain access to sensitive information.
**Scale of Hacked Surveillance Systems**
The advisory states that roughly 10,000 cameras were accessed during this operation. Of these, 80% were located in Ukraine, with smaller numbers in Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. The NCSC said the intrusion gave the GRU access to “snapshots” of camera images showing material movements.
**Additional Cyber Tactics Deployed**
Beyond accessing surveillance cameras, the GRU operatives also sought sensitive logistics data, including train timetables and shipping manifests. They used spearphishing emails that featured adult material or fake professional content, often sent through hijacked or free email services.
**Targeted Organizations and UK’s Warning**
The targets included public and private organizations involved in delivering military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Paul Chichester, director of operations at the NCSC, warned that this malicious campaign by Russia’s military intelligence service presents a serious risk to targeted organizations.
“This operation highlights the ongoing threat posed by Russian cyber actors,” said Chichester. “We urge all organizations involved in providing assistance to Ukraine to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves against similar attacks.”
**Commentary**
This operation is just one example of Russia’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Western aid to Ukraine. The use of surveillance cameras and spearphishing tactics demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of cyber warfare by the GRU.
As reported earlier, Russia has been involved in multiple cyberattacks on French institutions since 2021, according to Paris. This latest incident serves as a reminder that cybersecurity is a global concern, and countries must work together to share intelligence and prevent similar attacks.
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