Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, known as Rosselkhoznadzor, has been targeted by a significant Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack. The cyberattack, confirmed by the agency’s press service on July 3, 2024, has caused considerable disruption to its information systems, leading to delays in food shipments across the Russian Federation.

The primary function of Rosselkhoznadzor is to oversee agricultural safety and quality standards. The attack directly impacted the issuance of essential veterinary and phytosanitary certificates for a wide range of regulated goods, causing a bottleneck in the national food supply chain.

Details of the Service Disruption

The large-scale DDoS attack overwhelmed the agency’s digital infrastructure, making it difficult for officials to process and issue the necessary documentation for transporting agricultural products. In a public statement, Rosselkhoznadzor acknowledged the attack and confirmed that its IT specialists were actively working to mitigate the effects and restore normal operations. The delays in certification have directly impacted the movement of food supplies throughout the country.

IT ARMY of Ukraine Claims Responsibility

The Ukrainian hacktivist collective, IT ARMY of Ukraine, has officially claimed responsibility for the cyberattack. The group made the announcement via their Telegram channel. According to their statement, the objective of the operation was to specifically halt the issuance of permits for the export of grain and other agricultural products from Russia. This claim aligns with the observed disruptions within the Rosselkhoznadzor systems.

Source: https://securityaffairs.com/183845/security/russian-rosselkhoznadzor-hit-by-ddos-attack-food-shipments-delayed.html