Ukrainian Hackers Expose Russian Soldiers’ Families in Vigilante Operation

In Ukraine, a group of hackers has taken on the role of hacktivists, employing their skills to target Russian military personnel since the start of the invasion in February 2022. This 30-member team has developed methods for identifying and geo-locating Russian military columns, which has been crucial for the Ukrainian armed forces in defeating enemy armored units. Their activities have also included exposing the identities of specific individuals, particularly those responsible for war crimes. A notable operation involved uncovering the identity of Colonel Sergei Atroshchenko, who ordered the bombing of a theater in Mariupol that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. The hackers successfully manipulated Atroshchenko’s wife into revealing personal photographs under the guise of organizing a patriotic photoshoot. This act served not only to publicly identify a perpetrator of war crimes but also to highlight the personal connections of those involved in the conflict. Additionally, the hackers have utilized psychological strategies to disrupt the operations of Russian military personnel, including tricking the wife of a Russian artillery commander into believing he had contracted HIV. This deception led to his suspension from combat duties, temporarily reducing his ability to participate in the ongoing conflict. Members of this group state their commitment to continuing their operations beyond the current conflict, aiming to assist in holding those accountable for war crimes and contributing to future tribunals addressing these violations in Ukraine.