A well-known hacktivist group has announced a large-scale digital breach targeting the Russian government and its affiliated businesses.
The group, operating under the banner of Anonymous, claimed responsibility for leaking 10 terabytes of data connected to Kremlin officials, Russian companies, and pro-Russian figures worldwide.
The announcement came via a post on the X platform (formerly Twitter) by a channel called Anonymous TV. The post described the leak as an act of solidarity with Ukraine and included a link to files titled “Leaked Data of Corrupt Officials,” originally shared by Anonymous France, another account associated with the collective.
The files allegedly contain records on a wide range of targets, including Western businesses operating in Russia, foreign officials seen as sympathetic to Moscow, and even companies unrelated to the political scene, such as global tea brands and fast-food chains. A screenshot of the file structure showed folders named after public figures and companies, raising curiosity about the depth and legitimacy of the data.
However, the announcement was met with skepticism in the cybersecurity world. Experts and cyber-activists have raised doubts about whether the leaked materials are truly new or merely a compilation of previously available information. Emma Best, a digital transparency advocate, suggested that much of the data appeared to be scraped from older leaks and online sources. Another tech analyst, Mikael Thalen, traced some of the files to an X user active since late 2023, indicating that the information may have been circulating for months.
Cybernews, a cybersecurity outlet, echoed those concerns. After analyzing parts of the archive, it reported that the files appeared random and not particularly groundbreaking. Despite this, some believe the leak might still hold strategic value. A Reddit user who downloaded the archive noted that the contents focused heavily on Russian defense companies and could be useful for intelligence purposes, particularly to Ukraine’s military.
This is not the first time Russia has faced cyberattacks amid its ongoing war with Ukraine. In March 2024, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency claimed to have accessed Russia’s Ministry of Defense database, gaining insight into the structure and personnel of the Russian Armed Forces.
The decentralized nature of Anonymous makes it difficult to verify the source and coordination behind the leak. With different factions often acting independently, the affiliation between Anonymous TV and Anonymous France remains uncertain.
As the dust settles, analysts are left to determine the actual impact of the breach. Whether the data dump is a powerful intelligence asset or simply a digital stunt, it adds another layer to the growing cyber-conflict linked to the ongoing war.