Earlier this week, the pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) was reported dismantled, having conducted numerous attacks on Ukraine and its allies, including crucial infrastructure in Europe.
The operation, named «Eastwood», was carried out jointly by Europol and Eurojust.
"On July 15, a botnet consisting of hundreds of compromised computers worldwide was dismantled, and several suspects were identified, including key organizers residing in Russia," the report stated.
The document emphasized that "NoName057(16) has been actively supporting the RF's actions since the onset of aggression against Ukraine."
The operation involved law enforcement and judicial authorities from twelve countries, including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and the USA, who conducted simultaneous actions against the offenders and their infrastructure. As a result, two individuals were arrested, one in France and the other in Spain.
"Germany issued six arrest warrants for individuals suspected of orchestrating NoName's activities, residing in the Russian Federation," Europol reported.
In total, seven warrants were issued for six Russian citizens, who, according to European agencies, are responsible for numerous attacks on critical infrastructure, including energy suppliers and transportation.
"Twenty-four searches were conducted at the group's branches, including one in France, where a significant amount of evidence was seized and is currently being analyzed," the Paris prosecutor's office stated.
The hackers employed DDoS attacks, which aimed to overload websites to render them inaccessible.
"The group carried out multiple attacks on critical infrastructure during significant political events," the EU's agency for judicial cooperation in criminal matters added.
According to agencies, the group carried out 14 attacks in Germany, some lasting several days and affecting around 230 organizations, including weapon factories and energy suppliers.
Attacks also occurred across Europe during elections. For instance, in Sweden, government and banking websites were targeted, and several attacks occurred during the Ukrainian President's address to the European Parliament in June 2023.
At the end of 2024, the group also claimed responsibility for cyberattacks on websites of several French cities. Recently, according to sources, the Netherlands became a target for hackers during the NATO summit.
