Hackers believed to be associated with Vladimir Putin targeted eight UK military bases, leaking Ministry of Defence (MoD) staff names and emails on the dark web. The breach occurred through a contractor used by the MoD, bypassing the Armed Forces’ cyber defenses. The incident, branded as “catastrophic,” is under investigation by the MoD, with suspicions pointing to the Russian group Lynx.
Among the affected sites is RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, housing US Air Force F-35 stealth jets and suspected nuclear weapons. This breach follows a recent warning from the National Cyber Security Centre regarding a spike in hacking incidents in the UK, which reached a record high of 204 attacks in the last year.
In response to the breach, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson emphasized the proactive approach taken to tackle cyber threats that jeopardize national security. The spokesperson confirmed ongoing investigations into the disclosure of MoD-related information on the dark web, refraining from disclosing further details to protect sensitive operational data.
Last year’s large-scale hack exposed personal data, including names, bank details, and addresses of service personnel and veterans, affecting up to 272,000 individuals. Additionally, the Government established the Afghanistan Response Route to address data leaks that occurred due to a defense official’s error in February 2022.
In a separate incident, Russia faced accusations of launching cyber attacks on a Spanish Air Force plane carrying the Spanish defense minister over Kaliningrad, en route to Lithuania for a scheduled meeting. The Spanish government’s itinerary included a meeting between the defense ministers of Spain and Lithuania.
