Hackers Strike Russian Railways on June 6, Causing Disruptions
Russian Railways digital platforms experience extreme traffic overwhelm, crippling their functioning
In an unexpected turn of events, Russian Railways found itself under a cyberattack on the morning of June 6. The company confirmed the incident via its official Telegram channel, reporting a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack that had hit their website and mobile app.
"We're currently experiencing some technical difficulties due to a DDoS attack," the Telegram post read. "We're working tirelessly to restore our digital platforms and appreciate your patience."
Despite the disruption, RZD assured its customers that ticket offices at stations and terminals were operational, and ticket sales were proceeding as usual. The company's internet resources were back up and running an hour after the attack, with ticket sales on the website and mobile app resuming at 12:27.
However, the company warned of potential service disruptions due to ongoing attacks and increased load on their information resources. "Our specialists are working hand-in-hand with relevant organizations to ensure smooth, uninterrupted service," the Telegram post updated later.
While the specific group or motive behind the attack remains undisclosed, cybersecurity experts point to a pattern of increased cyberattacks, including DDoS, phishing, and exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities, plaguing Russian companies this year. With the number of attacks projected to increase by 70-200% compared to 2024, the country's digitalization, development of AI technologies, and insufficient cybersecurity infrastructure are under scrutiny[4][5].
For a sector like transportation, the high-value, high-visibility target of Russian Railways makes it a prime target[4]. The immediate impact of the attack was operational disruption, hindering access to booking, scheduling, and real-time travel information for customers. Although DDoS attacks do not typically breach data or systems directly, the operational disruption and erosion of public trust can nonetheless be significant. Russian Railways reported over 1.5 million cyberattacks on its infrastructure since the start of 2025, underscoring the persistent and evolving cybersecurity threat landscape[4][5].
To counter this, the company is focusing on improving digital resilience, employee training, and incident response capabilities[4]. Subscribe for more updates as this incident unfolds.
- The cyberattack on Russian Railways was a reminder of the increasing threat of cybersecurity incidents in technology-driven industries.
- As cyberattacks continue to rise in Russia, the development and enhancement of cybersecurity measures becomes crucial to protect critical infrastructure like the transportation sector.
