Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, has reportedly compromised thousands of surveillance cameras across Ukraine and EU nations to track international military aid shipments to Ukrainian forces, according to a report in The Guardian.
British intelligence sources reveal that Russian hackers targeted cameras positioned near border checkpoints, military installations, and rail hubs. Approximately 10,000 cameras were breached, with 80% located in Ukraine and another 10% in Romania. Smaller percentages were accessed in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, each accounting for over 1% of the compromised devices.
Authorities in the UK further allege that Russian operatives sought additional logistical data, including train timetables and cargo documentation, to monitor aid shipments. The report also accuses Moscow of deploying phishing emails containing explicit content and false information, alongside using stolen credentials to infiltrate secure systems.
The UK's National Cyber Security Center has issued warnings to private logistics firms, urging them to bolster their digital defenses without delay.
"One documented incident involved voice phishing, where attackers posed as IT personnel to obtain high-level account access," the agency stated in its alert to ten affected countries.
British officials identify GRU Unit 26165 as responsible for the camera breaches. The Guardian notes that this unit has allegedly waged a sustained cyber offensive against NATO-affiliated entities, both governmental and private, since 2022.