WASHINGTON – Federal authorities announced Tuesday they have successfully taken down a sophisticated cyber espionage operation orchestrated by Russian military intelligence.
According to the Justice Department, the cyber network was run by Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, specifically Military Unit 26165 of the GRU.
Officials said the Russian operatives used compromised internet routers to carry out hijacking attacks targeting victims across the globe, focusing particularly on personnel working in military, government, and critical infrastructure roles.
Brett Leatherman, who serves as assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, explained the severity of the threat. “GRU actors compromised routers in the US and around the world, hijacking them to conduct espionage. Given the scale of this threat, sounding the alarm wasn’t enough,” Leatherman stated.
The disruption was carried out under court authorization as part of ongoing efforts to counter foreign cyber threats against American interests.
