Hacking group Anonymous took responsibility for the hacks into the Central Bank of Russia, as well as three other companies “that continue to operate in Russia.”
Anonymous claimed credit in a Wednesday tweet, threatening that “more than 35.000 files will be released within 48 hours with secret agreements.”
JUST IN: The #Anonymous collective has hacked the Central Bank of Russia. More than 35.000 files will be released within 48 hours with secret agreements. #OpRussia pic.twitter.com/lop140ytcp
— Anonymous TV ?? (@YourAnonTV) March 23, 2022
Its hacktivism came over a month after deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology Anne Neuberger announced that Russia was responsible for hacking Ukrainian banks. The United States and its allies gathered enough evidence to make the announcement in a press conference.
WATCH: RUSSIAN TV HACKED BY ANONYMOUS, AIRING FOOTAGE OF WAR IN UKRAINE
The Central Bank of Russia issued six press releases on the day of the alleged hack — however, none mentioned the breach. One of the releases discussed increasing inflation as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions.
“The median estimate of inflation expected in the next 12 months reached 18.3%,” the CBR wrote.
JUST IN: #Anonymous is targeting companies that continue to operate in Russia. https://t.co/6aJxERLPNK | DOWNhttps://t.co/Pbr4FiEBvr | DOWNhttps://t.co/1skWyQCS2d | DOWN#PullOutOfRussia #OpRussia pic.twitter.com/0BEOSRq6uM
— Anonymous TV ?? (@YourAnonTV) March 23, 2022
The three other websites Anonymous hacked are down as of this report. They include supermarket group Auchan, home-goods chain Leroy Merlin, and sportswear retailer Decathlon. They all share the same parent company, French holding company Association Familiale Mulliez.
The hacks came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech to the French Parliament Wednesday, where he pleaded for its help to stop the war.
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“French companies must leave the Russian market. Renault, Auchan, Leroy Merlin, and others,” Zelensky said. “They must cease to be sponsors of Russia’s military machine, sponsors of the killing of children and women, sponsors of rape, robbery, and looting by the Russian army.”
