• Aeroflot has cancelled dozens of flights due to a cyberattack claimed by pro-Ukrainian hackers.
• The attack reportedly compromised 7,000 servers and involved significant data breaches.
• The Kremlin has opened a criminal investigation into the incident, labeling it a wake-up call.

Aeroflot, Russia’s national flag carrier, has been forced to cancel dozens of flights due to a significant cyberattack that occurred on Monday. The national airline reported disruptions primarily across domestic routes and some international destinations, with the cancellations attributed to a failure in the airline's information systems. More than 40 flights were affected, leading to long queues and chaos at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, as passengers struggled to receive updates from the airline, according to Reuters.

The cyberattack was claimed by a group known as Silent Crow, in collaboration with Belarusian hackers called the Cyberpartisans. According to their statement, the attack was linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and resulted in the crippling of 7,000 servers, gaining control over personal computers within the airline. They threatened to release sensitive personal data of all Russians who have ever flown with Aeroflot, which caused additional alarm within the public and government, as reported by SCMP and Reuters.

In response to the incident, the Kremlin expressed concern, labeling the situation as alarming and stating that a criminal investigation has been initiated. Lawmakers have acknowledged it as a wake-up call regarding Russia's digital vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need to bolster cybersecurity measures, as underscored by statements from senior lawmaker Anton Gorelkin, detailed by India Times and HuffPost.

Aeroflot attempted to stabilize operations following the attack, reporting some improvements in their flight schedule. On Tuesday, it resumed operations for over 90% of its planned flights, though the disruptions highlighted the weaknesses in their cybersecurity framework. The airline stated that specialists were working diligently to restore system functionality while ensuring affected passengers were offered refunds or rebooking options, according to Reuters and Dawn.