Ukraine’s HUR launches cyber attack on Russian university training drone operators

A cyber operation by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence hit the North Caucasus Federal University, crippling its network and deleting crucial data.

Oct 11, 2024 - 23:00

Ukraine’s HUR launches cyber attack on Russian university training drone operators

Illustrative image, photo via Wikimedia.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has carried out a cyberattack on the network infrastructure of the North Caucasus Federal University, which trains drone operators, digital communications specialists, and engineers for Russia’s occupying army, a source familiar with the matter told UkrInform.

The Russian army launches Shahed drones against Ukraine almost every day. Attacks target critical energy infrastructure, facilities, and buildings. The Ukrainian military is gradually destroying the bases where the Russians store drones, as well as the production facilities where invaders manufacture them.

The North Caucasus Federal University supports the operations of several educational institutions across multiple regions of Russia, including seven institutes. The cyber operation compromised the university’s internal information infrastructure, destroying websites, databases, and file storage systems with a combined total of over 150 terabytes of data.

According to the source, HUR hackers attacked 11 websites, over 7,000 computers, 135 servers, and storage systems.

A series of cyberattacks targeted additional Russian internet resources and file storage systems to divert attention from the main strike. After gaining access to Russia’s network, a leaflet supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ offensive operations was posted on the compromised sites.

The operation weakened the aggressor state’s educational and scientific foundation and capacity to train military specialists by executing special intelligence tasks in cyberspace.

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