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Ukrainian intelligence carried out a secret operation against Russian authorities in occupied Crimea. Over several days, Ukrainian cyber experts accessed and downloaded 100 terabytes of classified data from Russian-run government servers. After extracting the files, they completely erased the originals, leaving a major gap in Russian digital records.

The amount of data stolen, 100 terabytes which is massive.  That’s enough to fill more than 20,000 high-definition movies or store over 25 million songs.   It highlights the scale of the operation and how deeply Ukrainian specialists were able to dig into Russian-controlled systems.[1]

Reports state that many of the downloaded files were marked “secret.” The documents contained valuable military information, including maps of Russian bases, details of logistics networks, and classified communication records.  These systems also stored internal documents from regional and district governments, ministries, and various departments under Russian control.

After copying all the files, the Ukrainian cyber team deleted everything stored on the original servers.  This left Russian authorities without access to their own internal records, causing confusion and disruption in daily operations.

Leaked Files Reveal Propaganda and Military Coordination - According to Ukrainian sources, the stolen files contain more than just military logistics.  Some of the documents exposed efforts by Russian officials to spread propaganda across Crimea.  These included orders related to organizing public events, exhibitions, and school programs aimed at discrediting Ukraine and promoting pro-Kremlin narratives.

Intelligence findings also point to close cooperation between the Russian Foreign Ministry’s office in Simferopol and local administrations.  These communications reportedly show how propaganda instructions from Moscow are passed to ministries and then distributed to schools and universities for public messaging.

Military experts familiar with the data say that even civilian offices in Crimea issued secret orders related to territorial defense.  These communications, they say, offer critical insight into how Russian military and civilian structures operate together in occupied Crimea.

The cyberattack has given Ukrainian intelligence access to high-value materials that could reshape understanding of Russia’s presence and operations in Crimea.  It marks one of the most significant data breaches of the conflict to date.

This article is shared with permission at no charge for educational and informational purposes only.

Red Sky Alliance is a Cyber Threat Analysis and Intelligence Service organization.  We provide indicators of compromise information via a notification service (RedXray) or an analysis service (CTAC).  For questions, comments or assistance, please contact the office directly at 1-844-492-7225, or feedback@redskyalliance.com    

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[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ukraine-hacks-100tb-of-russian-government-data-massive-cyber-attack-exposes-kremlin-secrets/ar-AA1JCclN/