A Ukrainian hacker group, Blackjack, reportedly affiliated with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Moskollector, a company managing Moscow’s sewage network communication system. According to government sources, the attack resulted in the shutdown of 87,000 alarm sensors and the destruction of 70 servers, halting the company’s ability to respond to emergencies for an estimated 15 to 30 days. The hackers also allegedly wiped out approximately 90 terabytes of data, including emails, backups, and contracts, severely impacting the functioning of Moscow’s critical infrastructure.
Although initial reports suggested the attack had significantly disrupted Moskollector’s operations, the company’s website remains functional, casting uncertainty on the extent of damage inflicted on the system. Moskollector, under the jurisdiction of the Moscow City Department of Housing and Communal Services since March 2017, plays a crucial role in managing the city’s sewage network infrastructure. However, the exact implications of the cyberattack on its operations are yet to be fully determined.
This incident follows a recent hack by the same group targeting Russian data center OwenCloud.ru, resulting in the destruction of over 300 terabytes of data used by various sectors, including the military-industrial complex, oil and gas, and telecommunications. Blackjack described the attack as retaliatory, in response to a previous Russian hack on Ukraine’s data center earlier in the year. The escalation of cyber warfare between Ukraine and Russia underscores the growing significance of cyberattacks as a tool in geopolitical conflicts.
