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On December 11, Grigory Sverdlin, a prominent anti-war advocate, reported significant news through his Telegram channel regarding a major cyber breach. An anonymous group of hackers has infiltrated Mikord, one of the primary developers behind Russia’s military draft database. This breach reportedly allowed the hackers access to the system for several months, during which they extracted a large amount of sensitive data.
Sverdlin, who leads the organization Get Lost, announced that the hackers communicated with his group, providing documents anticipated to lead to a major investigative report by the independent outlet iStories. This leak is expected to illuminate the inner workings of Russia’s military enlistment strategies and ultimately make the information accessible to the public.
Impact of the cyber breach on Russia’s draft system
The Unified Military Register, which functions as Russia’s digital military draft system, aggregates personal information from various government databases, enabling the Defense Ministry to issue draft summons electronically. This system was designed to streamline the enlistment process by facilitating digital notifications, thereby eliminating the need for physical mailings.
Once a draft notice is issued, recipients are legally obligated to report to a military enlistment office. Failure to comply results in immediate travel restrictions. Sverdlin emphasizes that, following the recent cyberattack, this system will remain inoperative for at least several more months, effectively halting the issuance of new draft orders.
The hackers’ motives and methods
While discussing the motivations of the hackers, Sverdlin refrained from providing specific details. However, he indicated that the hackers are Russian individuals with anti-war sentiments, suggesting a calculated move against the ongoing military mobilization. According to Sverdlin, the hackers executed a sophisticated attack on Mikord, resulting in the destruction of critical infrastructure, including the original source code and technical documentation.
“The damage inflicted is substantial,” he stated. “The developers at Mikord will require significant time to recover the lost information.” He added that the hackers’ actions have brought the entire system to a standstill, as automatic processes for banning travel and issuing loans are no longer functioning.
The state of the Unified Military Register
Upon its intended launch, the Unified Military Register was designed to hold extensive data on approximately 30 million records of eligible draftees. Each record contained about 100 data fields, facilitating a comprehensive overview of individuals subject to military service. However, Sverdlin points out that due to the *poorly constructed digital infrastructure*, hackers found it relatively easy to breach the system.
Reports indicate that the digital draft system was down for several days before Sverdlin’s announcement, and while it has since resumed basic operations, its functionality remains severely compromised. The Defense Ministry has dismissed claims of a breach, labeling them as false and asserting that the registry has successfully resisted multiple hacking attempts.
Future implications and ongoing investigations
Sverdlin also mentioned that his organization, Get Lost, has experienced a surge in requests for assistance since the launch of the digital draft system in July. The heightened anxiety among the public regarding their enlistment status has prompted more than 100 inquiries per day, as individuals strive to evade compulsory military service.
Looking ahead, Sverdlin expressed optimism that once the investigation by iStories is published, it will reveal not only the hackers’ findings but also the names of companies and individuals profiting from the military draft system. “We have identified those who are benefiting from these government contracts, and all this information will be available for public scrutiny,” he concluded, indicating a commitment to transparency.