Ukrainian hackers, in conjunction with the French collective Anonymous, alleged coordinators behind the cyber assaults on Russian assets on July 29 and 30.
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a significant player in the digital battlefield is the Ukrainian hacker group known as Hacken. With roots in Ukraine, Hacken has become a formidable force in the cyber realm, participating in attacks against Russian companies [1].
The group's activities were brought to light in August 2025, when the names of its members were publicly disclosed, confirming Hacken’s involvement in attacks on Russian corporate entities. However, specific details about its operations and affiliations remain limited [3].
During the summer of 2022, other prominent Ukrainian hacking groups, such as the BO Team, the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, and Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), were also actively involved in cyberattacks against Russian targets. For instance, in July 2025, these groups claimed responsibility for major cyberattacks against Russian targets like the drone manufacturer Gaskar Group and Gazprom's network infrastructure [1][2].
The involvement of Hacken in the cyber conflict took a new turn when it allied with the hacktivist collective Anonymous in July 2022. These joint cyberattacks were aimed at creating dissatisfaction in Russian society and satisfaction in the Ukrainian one [4].
However, it's important to note that there is no publicly known association between Hacken and Western intelligence agencies like MI6 or the CIA, or Anonymous, based on available information [5].
In response to these cyberattacks, Russian hackers from a group known as KillNet have prepared a retaliatory strike. The initial target of this retaliation is France's infrastructure, suggesting a possible widening of the cyber conflict beyond Russia and Ukraine [6].
Anonymous, a group known for its declarations of cyberwar on Russia, has also threatened international companies that remain in Russia, such as Citibank, Burger King, Subway, Raiffeisen Bank, and others [7]. The group has a history of such declarations, with their first such declaration in February 2022 [8].
As of July 2025, Hacken consists of 110 people, with 60 of them operating in Ukraine. The headquarters of Hacken is in Tallinn, with the core team in Lisbon, where they were relocated from Ukraine in March 2022 [9]. In March 2022, Hacken received millions of dollars from American investors [10].
The cyber conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, with both sides using their digital prowess to gain an advantage in the physical battlefield. As the situation evolves, it is crucial to monitor the actions of these hacking groups and their potential alliances to understand the broader implications of this digital war.
- The cyber war between Ukraine and Russia has seen the involvement of various hacking groups, with Hacken, Anonymous, and other Ukrainian groups like the BO Team, the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, and Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) leveraging technology for attacks on Russian targets.
- The political landscape of cybersecurity is increasingly complex, as witnessed in the ongoing cyber conflict between Ukraine and Russia, where alliances between groups like Hacken and Anonymous are influencing the digital battlefield, with implications beyond the immediate conflict zone.
