Ukrainian intelligence has taken a significant step in the fight against Russian strategic aviation forces by gaining access to secret resources of one of Russia’s leading design companies — the Russian Ministry of Defense, known as the Tupolev Design Bureau
This breakthrough has become a sensation not only for Ukrainian special services but for the entire Ukrainian defense sector, which actively engages in digital space battles to obtain crucial information about Russian military objects and technologies. According to detailed information received from sources within the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the hacking operation lasted several months and resulted in the full acquisition of valuable data previously classified as secret. Official reports confirm that Ukrainian specialists gained access to internal correspondence, personnel data of the enterprise staff, their home addresses, engineers’ resumes, as well as procurement documents and minutes from closed meetings. This information provides a broad window into the internal workings of Tupolev — from the nature of employee activities to strategic plans concerning Russia’s aviation program. Using advanced cybersecurity tools, Ukrainian intelligence not only collected detailed data but also managed to identify specific specialists and employees directly involved in servicing and modernizing Russia’s strategic aviation fleet. This revelation holds particular importance for the military and intelligence agencies, as it now reveals not only names but also residences and contacts of key individuals responsible for the technological support of Russian strategic bombers and long-range aircraft. A symbolic act by Ukrainian cyber specialists drew special attention at the conclusion of the operation. On Tupolev’s official website, an image appeared of an owl — a symbol of wisdom and secrecy, holding a Russian aircraft in its claws. This was presented as a sign of the attack and a demonstration of victory in the digital war for information space and national security. A confidant from the Main Intelligence Directorate confirms: "Now we have no more classified papers or secret internal documents within Tupolev’s activities. We have seized the maximum amount of information and will be able to use it to further strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. Specifically, considering the obtained data, we now have a clear understanding of the human resources responsible for servicing and modernizing Russian strategic bombers. This step can be said to have a significant positive impact both on the battlefield and in Russia’s strategic calculations regarding its aviation forces — on land and in the air." Background to this significant event includes a well-known incident in May, when within the framework of a global operation involving over eleven countries, a large-scale Russian cyberattack was jointly uncovered. The attack aimed to disrupt weapons supplies to Ukraine and other forms of support for Ukraine’s defense sector. This operation is part of a broader, ongoing information and cyber war that has been continuing for several years, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and equipping Ukraine with modern defensive means. Thus, Ukraine’s cyber intelligence operation serves as yet another proof that Ukrainian special services are capable of high-tech levels of information warfare. In the future, this could have a substantial impact on the course of the conflict and the security situation in the region. At the same time, this event highlights the importance of active digital defense and the need to strengthen Ukrainian intelligence agencies’ cybersecurity capabilities.