Russian S-400 “Triumf” missile-defence batteries. (File photo for representation.)
New Delhi: A significant data breach involving sensitive information related to India’s S-400 missile-defence systems, which India purchased from Russia, has emerged, sparking concerns about national security. The leak, originating from hacked emails of Russian military officials, details the specific configuration of the advanced weapon system purchased by India.
In a post on Defence Blog, the blog’s editor in chief, Dylan Malyasov, wrote that a Ukrainian hackers’ group called CyberResistance, in collaboration with an international intelligence community called InformNapalm, began releasing a series data on the S-400 “Triumf” missile-defence system by the name of “BaumankaLeaks” – named after the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, which is the source of the data.
It said the release coincided with the Russia visit of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, earlier this month, where he was seen hugging the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Putin later fated Modi with the highest civilian award of the country, as India Sentinels had reported. It may be mentioned that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was not amused and vented his displeasure publicly on social media.
In retaliation to Modi’s highly publicized Russia visit, InformNapalm resolved to reveal comprehensive information regarding the defence agreements between Russia and India. This included a thorough inventory of equipment stipulated in the S-400 supply contract, which was originally meant to be published with redactions.
The leaked correspondence contains detailed catalogues of the S-400 systems, specifying the quantity and reference numbers for all components, including spare parts. Crucially, the documents also enumerate the precise amount of munitions Russia intends to furnish to India.
Apart from these leaks, InformNapalm also released a sensitive email sent by Vladimir Chervakov, head of the Department of Air Defence at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, to his academic colleagues. This communication leak unveiled an exhaustive breakdown of the S-400 divisions that India purchased.
The leak has prompted questions about the security protocols in place to protect sensitive defence information. While the exact nature of the breach and the individuals or involvement of other groups responsible remain under investigation, the incident underscores the growing threat posed by cyberattacks to national security.
India acquired the S-400 missile system for the Indian Air Force from Russia in a high-profile deal amid geopolitical tensions. The system’s capabilities have been viewed as a deterrent to potential missile and aerial threats in the region. India has already received three out of the five S-400 systems ordered. However, the recent data breach raises concerns about the vulnerability of such complex defence systems to cyberespionage.
Defence and intelligence agencies are reportedly working to assess the extent of the damage caused by the leak and to implement measures to mitigate any potential risks.
