Tupolev targeted: Ukraine hacks Russian bomber design bureau
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has successfully carried out a cyberattack on Russia’s leading strategic aircraft manufacturer, Tupolev, dealing another blow to the infrastructure behind Moscow’s long-range aerial operations.
According to Ukrainian sources, quoted by the portal Miliarnyi, the operation targeted Tupolev’s internal networks and data systems. Intelligence specialists reportedly accessed and extracted an extensive volume of confidential data, such as "internal correspondence between company executives, personal data of employees, home addresses, CVs of engineers and designers, procurement documents, and minutes from closed-door meetings."
Militarnyi also reports that "as part of the attack, hackers defaced Tupolev’s official website, posting an image of an owl gripping a Russian aircraft in its talons — a symbol often associated with Ukrainian military intelligence."
Tupolev's role in Russian defence industry
Tupolev, a major player in Russia’s defence industry, is responsible for designing strategic bombers such as the Tu-95 and Tu-160—aircraft frequently used in missile attacks against Ukrainian territory. By disrupting the manufacturer’s digital infrastructure, Ukraine aims to undermine the technical backbone of Russia’s long-range bombing capability.
The hacked data is believed to contain "comprehensive insight" into the functioning, maintenance, and modernisation of these strategic aircraft. Ukrainian officials suggest that the extracted files could provide leverage in countering aerial threats and understanding vulnerabilities in Russian aviation assets, as Suspilne TV reports.
In recent months, Kyiv has intensified its focus on cyber warfare as a complement to its conventional defense strategies, targeting logistics, communications, and weapons development platforms deep inside Russian territory.
Source: Militarnyi
